A PROPERTY guardian scheme is ‘working well’ at a former North Tyne school.

West Woodburn First School closed in May of last year, when it had no pupils on its books and none registered for September’s intake.

Northumberland County Council’s cabinet unanimously approved plans to close the rural school after a series of four-week consultations.

It came after the council had received just one representation against the proposed closure from a member of the public who had no obvious connection to the school, according to Coun. Wayne Daley.

The building is now listed by Ad Hoc Property Management as a two-bed, shared accommodation to rent under a ‘property guardian scheme’, which sees people protect vacant buildings by simply living in them.

In October, Cath McEvoy-Carr, executive director of adult and children’s services, confirmed the council were working with the company to secure the building and were working towards an agreement for Ad Hoc to manage the site​ - an arrangement already in place in a number of other council owned buildings.

A spokeswoman for Northumberland County Council confirmed last week that the authority had now “completed the agreement with Ad Hoc and the guardian scheme continues to work well at the property.”

There had been previously been calls for the school to become a primary but parents supported the closure, sending their children to other schools in the area.

The authority invested £26,000 into school transport.