Steve McDonnell, headteacher of Elwick Hall Primary School and Hart Primary school, fears for their futures after the Mail revealed Hartlepool Labour Group's vision for primary education.

The Labour Group has produced two documents outlining its vision, which states the closure of both schools, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, presented the best option in terms of the long-term future viability of primary school provision.

The release of the document comes at the same time that Hartlepool Borough Council education chiefs are reviewing primary education as part of the Government's Primary Capital Programme (PCP).

The PCP is aimed at removing surplus places in primary schools, improving standards in English and maths and rebuilding or taking out of use schools in need of repair.

Mr McDonnell said: "We are currently in the second stage of the process for the PCP and I was quite shocked to find that this document had been distributed to primary school head teachers in town.

"I don't think much thought has gone into the timing of the release because it was sandwiched between the public meetings for Hart and Elwick primary schools.

"This is only the view of the Hartlepool Labour Group, and I wonder what the views of the other councillors is.

"It seems as if decisions have been made without thinking through the process, and there are no reasons given for why these schools aren't viable."

Parents have also hit out at the group for supporting the closure of the schools before the second stage of consultation has even ended.

Jane Starling, 35, who has two children at Elwick Hall Primary, fears for the future because four members of Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet committee are Labour councillors.

The single mum, who works in the NHS, said: "You would think that they would listen first to what people actually have to say but they have already stated that they support the closure and it is just illogical."

The health worker added: "We have been in touch with the department of education and they say that once the council puts forward a list of proposals then we can appeal and take it to a judicial review."

Councillor Jonathan Brash, leader of the Hartlepool Labour Group, said the final decision would lie with Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart Drummond.

Coun Brash said: "It is important to remember that even though Labour has the majority of councillors in the cabinet and on the PCP project board, the elected mayor has the power to do what he wants.

"He has full control, and it is certainly not a done deal.

"It is very difficult to get all the Labour councillors together and we had a number of meetings and discussions before producing the documents.

"We got it out as fast as we could, and it had no bearing on when the public school meetings were."