It was standing room only as 100 angry parents gave Essex education chiefs a two-hour grilling over the fate of a primary school facing the axe.

Emotions have run high since Essex County Council revealed Chapel Hill County School in Braintree could be shut after two scathing Ofsted reports in 2000.

In the school's packed main hall on Monday night, anger and frustration were clearly visible as County Hall education bosses fielded a barrage of questions from the floor.

Senior County Hall officer Nigel Hunt started by explaining how the consultation process on closure would work.

Mr Hunt gave parents assurances there were enough places in Braintree for Chapel Hill pupils if the school closed.

He added: "No one is juggling with figures. The county council is between a rock and hard place. Whenever we take a decision we'll be accused by someone of getting it wrong."

But the county council was later accused of being "ineffective" and "half-hearted" in its efforts to help schools in trouble.

One furious parent said the school was the lifeblood of the community.

The issues of uniforms and school transport were also raised and a save our school petition - bearing more than 2,200 names - was handed over to education bosses.

Elwyn Bishop, a district and county councillor for East Braintree, who chaired the meeting said: "No decision has been made at all. The people who will decide are not the officers - it's the county council.

"I can honestly tell you it is nothing to do with selling the school and making a profit."

Braintree councillor Richard Tincknell, a former chairman of a struggling school's governing board in Witham, said: "In my personal opinion, Essex LEA is not very good at supporting schools in special measures.

"The county council should be saying we're going to do A, B, C, D, E right up to Z, if necessary, to get this school out of special measures."

Parents' campaign leader Sarah Spooner, visibly drained and close to tears, added: "There have been some big points raised. We have given them something to think about."

Parents' campaign leader Sarah Spooner , visibly drained and close to tears, added: "There have been some big points raised. We have given them something to think about.

Look back in anger - Sally Tomkins' head says it all.

Picture: STEVE ARGENT

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.