A COMMUNITY was in shock last night at the loss of its village school in a devastating blaze.

As firefighters quelled the flames that engulfed Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, borough councillor for the village Doris Jones, who is also the Mayor of Darlington, said: "This has absolutely rocked the village.

"At a meeting last night we unveiled plans for a new school in Middleton St George, but that will not be opened until September 2004.

"We don't know what will be done until then.

"Everyone in the village is absolutely devastated. They have all been watching the heart of their community burn down tonight."

It is the latest and final blow to the school, which has been struggling to cope with the influx of pupils as the area boomed.

Problems began two years ago, when planning permission was granted for 22 detached houses, leading to concerns over how the small school would manage to cope with the extra pupils.

Although well respected by parents, the building was inadequate for the needs of a modern curriculum.

More than two years ago it received £80,000 towards a classroom extension as part of a class-size reduction programme.

But despite this, in December applications for places at the school were about 48, although the school's admission limit is set at 30.

In a bid to ease these problems, last year plans were announced for a new £3m voluntary-aided school in the village.

The night before it burned down, 50 parents attended a meeting in the old school hall to discuss the plans for the £3m school.

The new school would have replaced the old building and also see the closure of Sadberge CE Primary.

Unlike Middleton St George, Sadberge primary has room for 110 pupils, but there are only 50.

It was hoped that the new school, which would accommodate 315 pupils, would even out these differences.

This caused controversy, particularly in Sadberge, where residents feared the loss of the school would mean the loss of the heart of the village.

In December, Labour leader Councillor John William said: "The simple fact is that Sadberge school is becoming less and less sustainable, and has lost the critical mass to survive. We have an extending school in Middleton St George and a school that is under extreme pressure."

Before last night's fire, the cost of bringing the school up to modern standards was estimated at £600,000, but the money for a new voluntary- aided school would be applied for by the Anglican Durham Diocese, which would help the council run the pupils' education.

The school would also include a 39-place nursery, as well as offering sports facilities, a large hall and games area which could be used by the wider community.

With police refusing to rule out arson and four boys allegedly seen on the roof of the school before the blaze, there is another irony - the school was about to start up a Junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme. It was to have been launched next week and would have been the first of its kind in the Darlington area. A series of events were planned, including crime prevention measures.

Community safety officer PC Clare Addison said last week when the scheme was announced: "We are not seeking to make the children mini-police officers or mini-neighbourhood wardens, but they may be able to pass on some useful intelligence."

Meanwhile, Marianne Hume, a former pupil, said last night: "There are a lot of memories in that school.

"I was there throughout my childhood and my mother, who is 88, remembers the school from 1911. My granddaughter is there now. It was generation after generation watching it burn down."