TORY MP Nigel Evans has called on education bosses to reprieve a tiny village school from closure.

The Ribble Valley MP says Labour-run Lancashire County Council's decision to close Tosside Primary School, Gisburn Forest, is "manifestly unfair" and believes parents and teachers have been "slapped in the face."

A closure decision was taken by county councillors despite a campaign from parents and governors to keep the school open - although the decision still has to be ratified by a full meeting of the county council.

The number of pupils at the school, which received an excellent report from government inspectors, has dropped from 26 to nine in eight years.

Mr Evans said: "Although the average cost of per pupil at Tosside is higher than the Lancashire average, there will be an underspend in the education budget this year.

"These Labour councillors need to go back and take some maths lessons themselves. They just seem intent on making a saving here and saving there, no matter who it hurts.

"They are only denying children the excellent education and social skills provided by Tosside School but they will irreparably damage a community which has been built up for generations around the school."

Mr Evans has written to Education Secretary David Blunkett to remind Labour county councillors of the party's "education, education, education" pledge before the 1997 general election.

He added: "The county council should be intent on protecting rural communities but this decision just goes to prove they do not care. Future generations will be asking why"

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