Teachers and the parents of pupils at a tiny Cumbrian school have vowed to continue their fight against the planned closure of the school.

Cumbria's Schools Organisation Committee, an independent body, made the decision on Monday to close Lowick Primary School, near Ulveston.

The county council earmarked the school for closure last year because of falling pupil numbers.

The committee - made up of four groups - voted on a group basis with two votes cast for closure and two abstentions.

'Considered view'

Even one vote against closure would have meant it went to a government adjudicator and, in Cumbria's experience, no adjudicator has ever close a school.

Cumbria County Council was one group - along with representative of the Roman Catholic diocese - which abstained.

Chris Southwood, county council member said: "The considered view in the group was a split vote.

"There are only four of us here today, two voted for closure and two people voted against closure."

Judicial review

Liz Vaughan, chairperson of Lowick parish council, said she did not see Monday's decision as conclusive.

"We do have the parochial church council and both parish council with us, and the people of Lowick.

"Everybody is concerned. It is the heart of our community."

Headteacher Shirley Rainbow said: "I'm so devastated for everyone who has put their heart and soul into keeping the school open and I'm sure there must be something else we can do.

"We said at the beginning we wouldn't take no for an answer."

In December, the school had its case for a judicial review turned down by the High Court in London which had been hearing an application lodged on behalf of the school's 21 pupils.