PARENTS of children at a school hit by a financial crisis have vowed to rally together to throw a lifeline to the beleaguered institution.

Hartlebury School looked doomed after the headmaster, David Bolam - whose company owned the school - announced to staff around three weeks ago that he had no money and was not seen again, leaving the institution with an unpaid bill for six months' rent.

Two days later, unsuspecting parents discovered the dire straits facing the school that serves around 50 pupils aged between five and 16.

A crisis meeting was held between parents and interested bodies on Friday - after the chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Trust, Michael Rendle, said it appeared unlikely the school could continue to operate unless money was found.

Afterwards, parents' spokesman, Neil Adams, told the Shuttle/Times and News a potential investor had stepped forward and parents were considering forming a registered charity or charitable trust to run the school.

"Two options are being reviewed and a mechanism has been created to enable the teachers to be paid - we've created a fighting fund effectively," Mr Adams said.

"The news was obviously rather upsetting to us all but we're now trying to put a positive spin on it and have a fantastic opportunity to move forward."

He said the biggest incentive was the pupils, many of whom had learning difficulties, and would "not function particularly well in mainstream education".

He explained: "Some are severely dyslexic, some have mild behavioural problems and some are school-phobic so they wouldn't walk through the doors of a normal school because they couldn't cope.

"The real point is the parents don't really have anywhere else to take these children."

The 44-year-old business consultant's son Tyler, 11, attends the school.

Mr Adams added the "fighting fund", paid for by the parents, would sustain the school and pay teachers - who he believed had worked unpaid for two months - until they decided what route to take. He said parents would meet again tomorrow.

After a staff vote, the role of headteacher is now being carried out by former music teacher Colin Harper.

Last week, Mr Rendle said the trustees were accountable to the Charities Act 1993 and must safeguard its assets.

"The previous tenant went into administration earlier in the year and despite repeated promises from the headmaster, no rent has been forthcoming for more than six months," he said.

"In the circumstances, the trustees have no choice but to take possession of the school premises but earnestly invite interested parties to approach the trustees with a view to the premises continuing to be used for educational purposes."

He said after hearing the results of the meeting from the Shuttle/Times and News, that the trust was awaiting developments and hoped to hear from whoever wants to run the school.