PARENTS at under-threat school have been called to a meeting tomorrow night (Thursday June 15) by North Yorkshire County Council to hear about the future of their children.

Ings Community Primary School in Skipton, which governors say is no longer sustainable, faces closure as early as December in the face of a falling pupil roll.

The meeting will inform parents of the availability of places at other schools throughout Skipton, Ofsted ratings, travel distance and home to school transport facilities.

And they will have until Monday, June 26, to submit applications to transfer their children to other schools.

The Broughton Road school, which has a capacity of 84, has just 42 in the primary department and five in the nursery.

It is predicted the numbers will fall to 34 by 2020 and it will have a deficit of £117,000 by 2018/19 rising to £249,000 in the following year.

And it was judged inadequate by Ofsted in 2013 and at inspections in 2014 and again last year was recorded as needing improvement.

But parents say the closure would see the end of a school which was a "lovely and safe community school."

One mother of two who described it as a "gem" wanted it to be saved, but said for the sake of her children she had to seek other places for them.

"I would love the school to remain open. It's a lovely school with a great community spirit but I have to think about my son and daughter. She starts nursery in September. I would prefer them to stay here at Ings."

Another mother with three children at the school, one in the final year, said the whole situation was filled with uncertainty.

"Our children's future is at stake. I understand there is a procedure to go through but it has all been announced very quickly The change will have a big impact on my family."

And a mother of six with two children at the school believed parents had been kept in the dark for too long and now they were left with the pressure of finding new schools not of their choice.