An infant school which was due to close at the end of the school year has been given a last minute reprieve.

St John's in New Street, Chatham, was due to shut under proposals by Medway Council to reorganise the school system in the Towns.

But St John's will now stay open after the Office for the Schools Adjudicator decided there was a need for the school in the community.

Head teacher Diana Keating found out about the decision at lunch time today (Tuesday).

She said: "Everyone, all the staff and pupils, are absolutely over the moon."

Parents led a high-profile campaign against the closure of the school.

For full story see Friday's Medway Messenger.