LOCAL MP Harriett Baldwin is backing supporters of Longdon CE Primary in their bid to save the school from closure.

Worcestershire County Council is set to close the school in August, citing falling pupil numbers and being unable to recruit a permanent headteacher among its reasons.

But parents and members of the Friends of Longdon School are campaigning against that decision.

Sixteen supporters turned up to explain their case when Mrs Baldwin held a surgery in Longdon Village Hall on Friday (April 1).

They are currently trying to attract more parents to apply to send their children to the school in September in hope that WCC will reconsider its position.

Mrs Baldwin urged the group to ask interested parents to send her a letter with a copy to the headteacher, stating their wish for their child to start at Longdon School in the autumn term if it remains open.

She said: "I will be writing to the county council to raise the range of points that were brought to me by the group. Longdon St Mary's Primary School is a lovely small school at the heart of the village, and I can't help feeling that closing it so suddenly will turn out to be a short term reaction.

“On the other hand with no head teacher and few children signed up for next September I can see why the governors, diocese and county council felt the need to consult on closure."

The Friends are now working overtime to generate interest in the school.

They are operating an information stand at the Hill Centre, in Upton, every Saturday morning and also plan to attend the Countrytastic event at Malvern's Three Counties Showground on Thursday, April 21 and the Royal Wedding celebrations in Upton on Friday, April 29.

Meanwhile, Longdon resident Rob Beswick, who wants his daughter to join the reception class in September and fellow parent Ben Mansbridge have drawn up an "encouraging" forecast chart of local pre-school children they know would take up reception places from 2012 to 2015.

Friends member Diana Scott said: “Longdon School is set in beautiful countryside, parents just need to come and look round the school for themselves to see it’s potential.”