Campaigners fighting to save Chillerton and Rookley Primary School from closure say the majority of parties standing for election on May 6 support them - but one party spokesperson has opted to remain neutral.

While some told the Save Our School campaign that plans to close the 170 year old building should be halted, the incumbent leader of the Isle of Wight council said his decision would be 'evidence based'.

A consultation was launched in January, on the future of the school in Chillerton.

It followed a formal request, from the Stenbury Federation, to merge it with Godshill primary.

There are 34 pupils at Chillerton and Rookley Primary, in a school made for 91 and it received no first choice applications for the 2021/22 academic year.

It is also facing a rising budget deficit, according to the Isle of Wight Council.

Now, there is a growing community effort to turn the school into one that is flexible, supporting part time learning and serving as a hub for those who are home-educated, among others.

Save Our School members asked all the main parties running for election on May 6 what they thought.

All except one spoke of their support for the campaign.

Isle of Wight Labour's Richard Quigley and Our Island's Jonathan Bacon both said that they did not think the school should close.

Nick Stewart, for the Liberal Democrats, called the threatened closure "devastating and unnecessary."

The Isle of Wight Green Party's Vix Lowthion and the leader of the Island Independents coalition, Cllr Debbie Andre, both called for more to be done to support struggling rural areas.

Cllr Andre said: "We fully support the efforts that are being made by Chillerton and Gatcombe Parish Council and local residents to establish a new governing body for the school and to promote the school in a positive light, to increase the uptake of places and secure the future of the school for generations to come."

Vix Lowthion said: "Rural villages must be properly supported to be areas to thrive and attract new residents and families.

"A school, a shop and community buildings are all critical to ensuring that our rural areas do not decline and become villages of housing alone.

"Our council should be doing everything in its power to support villages such as Chillerton and Rookley, and the local primary school is the source of much of village life."

Daryll Pitcher for the Vectis Party, said the closure of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School would damage the community.

Meanwhile, County Hall's Conservative leader, Cllr Dave Stewart, however, said he could not offer a position on the matter without looking at detail.

He told campaigners: "As council leader, I always look to take an evidence-based approach to decision making and will retain a neutral position until that time.”