A COUNCIL has rejected claims that a Darlington nursery school should to be closed because of the poor state of the building.

Darlington Borough Council says the Borough Road Nursery School building is sound and that there is no reason for its closure.

Its response follows a letter from a parent, sent to The Northern Echo, which claims the building is in a dilapidated state and a danger to children.

The mother, who did not wish to be named, describes the building as very poor, with a leaky roof, damp walls, draughty windows and an inefficient heating system which often breaks down.

She says the situation has got so bad that parents feel closing the school and moving their children elsewhere is the only solution.

"We understand that our children would have to move to another school, and many of them may have to travel further, but we feel it is a price worth paying to improve the safety and the standard of education for our children," the parent said.

"We are aware that this is a complex issue, with many factors to be taken into account, but it seems plain that this school cannot go on the way it is.

"The service is poor, the building is an eyesore and is perceived to be damp-ridden and asbestos-tainted. Surely our children deserve better than this?"

Darlington Borough Council has rejected the claims made in the letter, saying that the Borough Road Nursery School is one of the best in the town.

The authority says an adjoining building, the former Darlington Music Centre, did have problems with asbestos but that had been removed and the children don't have access to it anyway.

A council spokesman said: "The heating broke down once before Christmas but was repaired quickly, and a new roof will be put on the nursery in the summer. We believe the building is structurally sound, and as far as the children's education is concerned, you only have to look at the nursery's recent Ofsted report, which was very good.