Property prices are high in the South Hams

In the mid-90s there were around 150 pupils at Harbertonford School, but now there are just over 100.

The head teacher Sue Miller says the dwindling number of children in some South Hams villages is a symptom of high property prices in the area.

She says the situation has now got so bad that a teacher and a classroom assistant will have to be made redundant at the end of this term.

I think it's going to have very harmful effect on the school to lose a teacher Peter Beamish, parent

"It's not just our school," she said.

"There are lots of schools in the South Hams who are suffering the same effect of the cost of houses in a beautiful place to live," she said.

Many small village schools are finding it difficult to survive as young families leave, forced out by high property prices.

While there is no danger of the school being closed yet, the situation at Harbertonford illustrates a problem experienced in many well-off rural areas like the South Hams.

"We are very worried," said one parent, Peter Beamish.