THE case against a head- teacher accused of slapping her pupils at a village school has been discontinued.

But angry parents are refusing to send their children back if she returns to the school.

Elizabeth Carey, 51, was suspended from her job at the ten-pupil Milfield First School in Northumberland after parents complained to police.

Police and education chiefs launched an investigation after children said she had hit them, and another member of staff allegedly witnessed inappropriate behaviour by Ms Carey.

Parents claimed their children had been slapped on the legs and body and others complained of mistreatment.

The head was later charged with attacks on eight of the ten pupils at the school during a six- month period.

Ms Carey's case was due to be heard at Berwick-upon-Tweed Magistrates' Court, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue the allegations.

A spokeswoman for the CPS said: "This case was very carefully considered by a senior lawyer who decided there was not sufficient evidence to allow it to proceed and formal discontinuance notices have been sent out."

Now pressure is mounting for Ms Carey to be reinstated.