LESS than two years after Education Secretary David Blunkett saved Grafton School from closing, it is so well used that parking by parents has been causing a problem.

The governors of the school, near Marlborough, are waiting to hear if their planning application to turn part of the spacious grounds into a car park has been accepted by Kennet District Council.

Two years ago there was no question of forward planning as the governors and many friends of the school concentrated their efforts on campaigning to prevent the school being closed.

Wiltshire County Council said the school was too small to remain independent and, following this decision, the number of pupils dropped to just 15, half of the school roll in its heyday.

But in March last year Mr Blunkett upheld the appeal by the governors and parents.

The Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said: "We recognise the importance of village schools to their communities."

The minister said the Government had considered the high standards of the education provided at Grafton and was satisfied there was sufficient demand to justify its retention.

The school currently has 27 pupils.

Governor Vanessa Fleckney, whose own three children previously attended the school said: "We feel full of enthusiasm and confidence for the future and are planning many new initiatives to move the school forward."

Mrs Fleckney said the most immediate problem was the lack of space for parents to park.

She said: "In the past most parents used to live in the village and walk to the school with their children.

"Now we have a lot of parents who do not live in Grafton and who have to drive to school and there is nowhere suitable for them to park."

She said although the school has a large playground it could not be used for parking for safety reasons.

"We have plenty of land next to the school," she said

"And we have put in a planning application to Kennet and are waiting for their final approval."