VILLAGERS have lost a fight to save their school from closure in a scheme to reduce surplus places.

County Durham's schools organisation committee has upheld a decision by Durham County Council to shut Has-well Primary School this summer. Haswell and North Blunts Primary, Peterlee, were chosen for closure from an initial 22 schools.

Haswell's capacity is 147 pupils, but it only has 83. Education officials also cited below-average test results and the poor state of the building to make what they called a strong and robust case.

But villagers said the school was the hub of the community and that closure would hamper regeneration efforts.

They said they had plans to reduce the cost caused by surplus places by renting out part of the school as an art centre and mining museum.

The school had been waiting years for window repairs - the worst problem with the building - and that pupils had been moved to other schools, increasing the surplus places, since the county announced that it could close.

The committee also heard there was concern about the safety and security of young children being bussed to alternative schools in neighbouring villages.

Headteacher Dawn Whittaker said the last Ofsted inspection reported that the school provided a good education. But she said that unlike similar schools, it had many pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

"We are not recognised as being successful because we don't get to the average attainment that the Government wants us to. I think there is more to look at than just the Sats scores."

Parent Scott Meikle said: "It is absolutely disgraceful, a political decision to do with financial reasons, nothing else."

He said that some parents were talking of boycotting the Year Six Sats tests in protest.

Grandmother Elsie Todd said: "It isn't about the children's interest at all. Can they guarantee their safety going on the bus?''

Mrs Whittaker said the campaigners had put up a strong argument "but things were stacked against us''.

She said she could not support a Sats boycott. "But if parents decide that's how they wish to protest, that's their decision.''

The committee heard the arguments in public but deliberated in private.

Announcing the decision, the independent committee's chairman, Neil Foster, council cabinet member for education, said: "I appreciate that might not be the decision you wished to hear.'