Plans for a new, permanent extension to Lympstone Primary School have been submitted by Devon County Council.

The school, which occupies a cramped site near the centre of the village, has previously faced problems with overcrowding.

A solution appeared to be in sight when the Lympstone Parochial Church Council agreed to let the school use the Church Room site to the south of its main building, but plans to build a classroom there were rejected.

Now, however, the school is planning to demolish the Church Room for use as a play area, and then build a new classroom block on part of the current play area, and also on the site of an existing pre-school unit, which will be demolished.

As part of the plan, a mobile classroom on the playground, which was installed last year as a temporary measure, will also be removed, although two other mobile classrooms will be retained.

The plan will now go to Lympstone Parish Council and East Devon District Council for consultation, before county planners make the final decision.