PARENTS, staff and governors have vowed to save their school after council chiefs voted for its closure.

The proposal to close down Chetwood Primary School, in Gandalf''s Ride, South Woodham Ferrers, was agreed by Essex County Council's cabinet on Tuesday.

Council bosses said the school must close because of the low number of children in the town and the 44 per cent surplus of places at Chetwood.

The school has a capacity of 210 pupils, but currently has 120 on its official roll.

Following Tuesday's decision, it may have to close its doors in summer 2009.

But parents, staff and governors at the school vowed to continue their battle to save it and said an appeal will be lodged.

Simon Walsh, Essex county councillor responsible for children, schools and families, told the meeting: "I wish to commend the governors, teaching staff, parents and pupils for their efforts in campaigning to the save the school. It's a decision about the number of surplus places and the best quality of education in South Woodham Ferrers."

But Norman Hume, county councillor for South Woodham Ferrers, defended the school.

He said: "This is a finely balanced decision. My own view is the school deserves to be given more time. It's a good school. Nobody's questioning that."

Sharon Hutton-Mayson, chairman of the school governors, said she believed an independent inspector would see the arguments in defence of the school.

She said: "The county council isn't interested in reducing class sizes and phasing out demountable classrooms. As far as I'm concerned it's after the site."