PARENTS have voiced support for a teacher facing a disciplinary hearing after a long-running inquiry into alleged abuse at a special school.

The review at Windlestone Hall School, near Rushyford, has taken more than two years.

A total of 14 members of staff were suspended and 170 pupils interviewed during the course of the investigation, which it is believed has cost Durham County Council nearly £1m.

All staff have now been cleared, except for one teacher who will be subject to a disciplinary hearing.

Kathy Storey, whose 15-year-old son David still attends Windlestone, has supported the staff from day one.

She said: "I don't think this teacher should be having this hearing. He should have got his job back straight away like the others. The whole thing should never have happened."

Mrs Storey, who lives in Sherburn, Durham City, believes the inquiry has affected her son badly.

"My son has gone downhill so much since all this happened, all the pupils have. His education has suffered and his behaviour problems have definitely got worse," she said.

And she criticised the council for spending so much money on the investigation.

She said: "It's cost the council a fortune. David used to get picked up by minibus on a Monday and brought back on a Friday.

"Now it's no longer residential he gets a taxi there and back every day, paid for by the council. He's even said himself he wishes it was back to being residential."