Parents of children at Bicester's oldest primary school say they will fight to save it from closure.

Education chiefs are examining the future of St Edburg's School, in Cemetery Road, because of possible changes to its catchment area caused by hundreds of planned new homes.

But parents, shocked that Bicester's only Church of England school could be considered for closure, have pledged their support.

Joanne Williams, of Kingsclere Road, has three children at St Edburg's and added generations of Bicester people, including her father and sister, had been educated there.

Mrs Williams said: "It's nice that it's a little school - that's the character of the school. It's a Church school and it's next to the church.

"Quite a lot of people send their kids here because it's a small school."

Michael Waine, Oxford- shire County Council's cabinet member for schools' improvement, revealed last month that closing St Edburg's was a possible option under a new countywide review of primary education.

Plans for the town's south west development, which would see 1,585 houses built on land between Bicester and Chesterton, include sites for two new primary schools.

Mr Waine said one of the new schools could be named St Edburg's and dedicated as a Church of England school.

He added it could also include many of the same staff and governors as the current St Edburg's School and would also have better access and modern facilities.

But parents said they were worried any new school would be further away for some people and would mean children having to cross the busy Middleton Stoney Road.

Mrs Williams said: "That's a big road, a dangerous road. They are trying to stop people driving their kids to school and getting them to walk, but then they are sending the kids further afield."

Another mother added: "They can't take the name from here, not when it's been here so long. I think it should stay. I came here and two of my children are here at the moment.

"I used to have great times here. I would get posters and banners to save the school. I would do it tomorrow."

Amanda Ashe, of Ashby Road, has one son, David, at the school.

She said: "It would be a real shame if it closed. It's got lovely old buildings."

St Edburg's headteacher Damian Booth, who wrote to parents to explain the situation, said: "There has been some very positive feedback so far."

The county council has stressed there would be formal consultation before any final decision was made.