CHESHIRE education chiefs have confirmed they are going to close Mansfield Primary School next summer in a bid to reduce surplus places across the borough.

The county council's executive met on Thursday and decided to go ahead with plans to publish notices for the closure of the school.

The news comes after campaigner and mother-of-two at the school Sarah Duncan admitted last week there was nothing more parents could do to save Mansfield following the full council's recommendation to close it.

Cheshire's executive support member for children's services Shirley Harris said: 'We regrettably believe that falling school rolls leave us with no option but to close the school.

'At present there are 460 empty desks across Ellesmere Port and Neston while pupil numbers at Mansfield Primary School are less than 100.

'We must act now to safeguard the future of education for children as a whole in the two areas.'

If any objections are received opposing the closure then the matter will go to the independent school organisation committee.

If the committee does not reach agreement then the final decision on whether to axe the school in the summer of 2007 will be taken by an independent adjudicator appointed by the Government.

Parents have fought a long battle to prevent the closure after it was revealed last December Mansfield would be considered for closure under the county's Transforming Learning Communities (TLC) initiative.

Sarah Duncan took the fight on to the internet by creating a web-site where parents and the local community could leave their messages of support.

Campaigners also set up the Tie A Blue Ribbon campaign in which people were encouraged to put ribbons around trees, cars and even their homes to symbolise their support for the school. This move received the backing of Chester City and Vauxhall Motors football clubs.

Parents will now be running a number of fundraising events so they can organise a big party to make the children's last year at Mansfield a special one.