A headteacher has spoken of the "sad end" to her career following the controversial merger of her Abingdon infants school with a neighbouring junior school.

Dunmore Infants' School head Linda Konieczny hit out at the merger with Dunmore Junior. She said her health had suffered as a result of the process, and suggested staff in other schools could have taken industrial action in similar circumstances.

Both schools close at the end of term, on Friday, after 55 years. The new Dunmore Primary School opens on January 7 after more than a year of acrimonious wrangling between parents and Oxfordshire County Council.

Worried at the under-performing junior school that at one stage was in "special measures", the county proposed three options before deciding on the merger that eventually won public support.

Mrs Konieczny, who was head for 11 years, has taken up a position with the county council's education department as a member of the Raising Achievement Service.

In an emotional farewell letter to parents, staff and governors Mrs Konieczny, wrote: "My health has finally failed because of the strain of the last 15 months and I have been advised by my doctor not to return to school. I sincerely apologise for I feel I have let you down."

She praised staff for being "professional" and always putting children first and said: "I do not think that staff in many schools would have tolerated the events without being militant, but you have steadfastly continued to provide the children with a first-class education."

Speaking to the Oxford Mail Mrs Konieczny said: "It's a very sad end to my teaching career. The last 15 months have been traumatic and my health failed. I wanted to carry on teaching for another five years until retirement and did not envisage this."

But she added: "It was a fantastic experience at Dunmore which I will always remember. I have received many letters of support and I would like to thank everyone for helping me through what has been a distressing period of my life."

Retiring chairman of governors Pat Hobby said: "I think the education authority has treated Mrs Konieczny abominably. I hope it has learned a lesson."

A county council spokesman said the creation of a new school had meant the post of headteacher had to be advertised nationally.