AN auction has raised £90,000 for a village school that was saved from closure by determined parents.

Ten years ago, Priors School, at Priors Marston, was on the brink of shutdown under budget proposals put forward by Warwickshire Education Authority.

Villagers launched a two-year battle to save the building and with the help of a trust bestowed by Earl Spencer in 1849, it re-opened in September 1996 as an independent school with just 12 pupils.

Now, there are 65 pupils and a newly-built nursery.

The school, which also serves neighbouring village Priors Hardwick, does not charge fees to local children, and has to raise £140,000 a year to meet annual running costs. Pupils from out of the Priors parishes are asked to pay fees.

The biennial Priors Ball was held this year at the the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, and more than 400 people attended.

The highlight of the evening was a grand auction which made a record total of £90,000.