A VILLAGE with "a strong history of self-help" has collected £15,000 "in just a few days" to keep its much-loved primary school open.

Clapham CE Primary School, which has 28 pupils, could close this August, with North Yorkshire County Council saying it cannot afford its own head teacher and faces a £28,000 shortfall next year.

As the April 4 public consultation deadline approaches, villagers are stepping up their fight to save the rural Victorian school.

The Gazette understands playwright Alan Bennett, who has a home in Clapham, is among those supportive of their efforts.

This week the Clapham School Community Action Group met with school governors, parish councillors and teachers.

Iain Crossley, chairman of the group, said they hoped to repeat the "success" of villagers' efforts to save their shop five years ago. Clapham had "a strong history of self-help", he said, with community enterprises such as the volunteer-run Clapham Village Store, Broadband for the Rural North, and Growing with Grace, producers of organic vegetables.

Mr Crossley said £15,000 had already been donated to an "educational fund" designed to ensure the school "continues to thrive for the foreseeable future”. It is hoped the money will pay for wrap-around care such as breakfast clubs and after-school sessions, he said.

North Yorkshire County Council told the Gazette "all representations and responses" made in the consultation period would be considered.

To have your say, see www.northyorks.gov.uk