PARENTS at a primary school which is to close later this year are demanding a meeting with education bosses.

Springfield Primary School will be merged with Haughton Community School and Beaumont Hill Special School in the Education Village in November.

But parents at Springfield feel they have not been consulted over the development.

Education bosses were due at the school last Friday for a parents' meeting, but it was cancelled just days before.

The parents decided to hold the meeting anyway and about 80 of them quizzed governors.

Parent Julie Lee said: "People were not very happy that the meeting was cancelled at the last minute.

"We are going to send our children to the Village for more than six hours a day and we need to be kept informed of what's going on."

Yesterday, a spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said the meeting would be rescheduled for September, so parents of new pupils could be included.

He said: "The meeting was supposed to be about traffic congestion and safety around the Education Village.

"This issue needs to be discussed with parents, but if we had done it now, it wouldn't have included parents of the children who will be starting nursery school."

After the meeting, parents drafted a list of questions to be put before Margaret Asquith, head of children's services.

They included questions on inclusion at the school and why the Education Village has a single budget.

Springfield's headteacher, Anna Evans, has handed in her resignation.

However, as The Northern Echo has reported previously, more than 200 parents have signed a petition begging governors and the local education authority to make her change her mind.

Della Smith, chief executive of the Village, said she is happy to answer questions, and to help allay fears in the interim.

Ms Smith can be contacted through the council on (01325) 380651, or via Beaumont Hill Special School on (01325) 254000.