Parents who claim their promised new school was snatched away through a costly blunder have formed their own residents' association.

In February a school planned for Turner Rise, Colchester, was put in jeopardy after a £1.4 million oversight.

A delay signing papers by Essex County Council meant it was no longer entitled to a free parcel of land to site the junior school which was to have formed part of the housing development.

Owner, the Turner Rise Development Consortium, now has the legal right to use the land for whatever it wishes. But, it has indicated it still wants to help educational provision in the area.

Local parents reacted furiously to the news as many of them had bought their homes because of the promise of the school nearby.

They now claim their children's needs are being overlooked as they are not in the main catchment area for any other school.

Susan Stewart, of Brickmakers Lane, whose original inquiry about tidying up the site opposite her home sparked off the revelations, has been the driving force behind the creation of the association, which now has about 50 members.

She said: "We have formed this in response to the problems about the school and to make sure the needs of our children are met. Our first choice is to retain that site for a school but as this seems increasingly unlikely the most popular suggestion seems to retain it for public open space.

"I think forming this association will give us a stronger voice."

Mrs Stewart added the association was also looking into whether the county council could be taken to the ombudsman for maladministration.

Essex County Council has admitted it made a mistake but argues insufficient pupil numbers, and therefore funding, meant it was unlikely to build there anyway in the foreseeable future.

Mrs Stewart is chairman of the association, Roger Steward, vice chairman, Linda Steward, secretary, and Matthew Wilkinson, treasurer. Co-opted committee members are Huw Edwards and John Durrant.

Notice boards should soon be displayed around the estate keeping residents informed about what the association is doing.

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