A school has closed after staff and pupils were hit by a "superbug".

Vange Primary School is not expected to open again until Monday.

Charlotte Buckland, of Brickfield Road, Vange, said: "When I went to pick up my daughter Shannon, parents were given letters to say there was some kind of superbug and a lot of the teachers were off.

"There weren't many parents around either because a lot of the kids have been off too."

Joanna Board, 23, of Deneway, Vange, who has a son and daughter at the school, said: "There should be more supply teachers so the school doesn't have to close."

Nethermayne ward councillor Geoff Williams said: "It's very unfortunate but a school cannot operate if it does not have sufficient members of staff. Hopefully it will be back up and running as soon as possible."

An Essex County Council spokesman said: "The board of governors and staff would have considered all the options before closing the school."