Rippingale Primary near Bourne has only 20 pupils. Unless it doubles the number of children it will have to close, Lincolnshire County Council has said.

So far five more children have enrolled but the school needs to find 15 more pupils before the 21 May deadline.

There are 127 children living nearby but most attend schools in Bourne. The school said it was a sad situation.

Time running out

Simon Deane, vice-chairman of the governors at Rippingale School, said it was heartbreaking that the school might close.

"The LEA (local education authority) actually wants to keep the school open so it is with a heavy heart for all of that we have to think about closing it.

"It's a desperately sad situation. We moved to Rippingale two-and-a-half years ago and wanted to be part of village life and that means being part of the village school.

"We are just hoping people will come and look at the school before it's too late."