SHOCKED parents today spoke of their fears after police investigating claims that a 14-year-old girl was raped by a boy of the same age closed a school.

All 205 pupils at Earby Springfield primary school, off Bailey Street, were sent home yesterday as officers sealed off and searched the area after the alleged assault.

A 14-year-old girl told police she had been raped by the boy close to the school at 8pm on Wednesday night. The boy has been interviewed by police and released on bail pending further inquiries.

Mothers taking children to the school when it re-opened today spoke of their concerns.

One said: "I am very worried. I have a son and a daughter at the school. I have only lived in the area for about two months and it has come as a bit of a shock to me."

Another parent said: "I would be worried if I had girls at the school. I am not dismissing it, it is very serious, but I don't really know what has happened."

"You just keep your children in," said another parent. "You just look after your children." Another mother said she was told the school was closed yesterday by other parents as she walked up to the gates with her children.

She said she felt the incident was probably an isolated case and was not too concerned.

Headteacher Wendy Tracy (pictured) praised staff and governors for acting quickly when they realised the school would have to be closed.

She said: "We have really clear guidance in case of emergencies, usually for snow or the boiler failing, and we just put that into operation.

"All of the school's 205 pupils had been sent home by 9.10am. I left at 3.30pm and the police were still at the school."

The 14-year-old girl who made the allegations has also been interviewed by police.

Pendle CID's Detective Sergeant Mick Collins said: "We have spoken to a 14-year-old boy but no charges have been made and he has been released on police bail. Our inquiries are continuing and we do not expect charges to be made today."