PARENTS are incensed over the possible closure of Nynehead Primary School.

On Wednesday Somerset County Council’s executive agreed to consult the public over proposals to combine the school with Oake and Bradford primary from August 2010.

The cost-cutting move is being considered because Nynehead has just 28 pupils while Oake has less than 60.

If the move goes ahead, temporary buildings at Oake would be replaced by a £1.25million four-classroom block including pre-school provision.

The plans have caused anger among parents who protested outside Nynehead school on Monday and again at the executive meeting.

Jenny Criddle, who has a daughter at the school, said: “We all want the school to stay open because the school is the focal point of the village.”

Fellow parent Sally Anne Cullen added: “It’s just a terrible situation. When they federated the two schools we were told they would both be safe.”

Mrs Cullen said although the school had just 28 pupils now, there would be plenty of scope to add to the school run once the Cades Farm development opened.

Mark Formosa, the Conservative Parliamentary spokesman for Taunton, said: "Small schools are an integral part of the culture and history of many villages and it is extremely disappointing to find the county council now wants to close them.”

Taunton MP Jeremy Browne said: “I welcome the indication of willingness by Somerset County Council to invest substantial additional sums of money in the education of primary school children in the Nynehead, Oake and Bradford-on-Tone areas.”

A spokesman for the council said there would be a consultation period between October 6 and November 24.

The meetings will be held locally to enable parents and governors and others to make their views known.