In February the governing body proposed the county council should close the school at the end of the school year.

The news of the closure has devastated the community which stood united in a Save Our School campaign.

Despite pleas from parents and the community, the council decided there are not enough funds to keep it open, blaming falling roll numbers after they dropped to 23 pupils.

The school said it had been struggling with small numbers for some time and had explored every way to maintain it, including federation with other local schools.

Villager Lynda Gray said: "The village is absolutely devastated. The closure of the school has ripped the heart straight out of the village, but the decision has been made."

Parent Liz Gilpin, who has two children who will have to change school, said she had hoped the council would have given them a year or two to try and promote the school.

"The children will be glad when it's all over," she said. "None of their teachers are the same as 12 months ago. The teachers there now are brilliant but there's only the school secretary and a teaching assistant left from a year ago."

Debbie Barnes, assistant director of children's services, said: "The council will continue to work closely with the school and local community during the closure process.

"All of the pupils currently at Aby CE Primary School will be offered places at suitable alternative schools with transport provided where appropriate."

The school will close on August 31.

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