PAT Hollinghurst, head teacher of Chilton Trinity Technology College, said staff and students at her school were "dismayed on a number of fronts" following Michael Gove's announcement which put plans for their new school on ice.

She said: "We have invested so much and we would be devastated if our school is not built.

“It will be hard to feel much joy if only three of the Bridgwater schools are built.

"This whole project has been about creating a Bridgwater learning campus, about extending learning opportunities so that every student in Bridgwater gets the best possible opportunities.

“We are all absolutely devastated for the three schools that have been stopped and puzzled that somebody could so misunderstand the project that they might think we could complete three schools and not the other three schools.“

The Mercury also spoke to students Simon Harris, aged 13, and Lily Rowland, 14.

Simon said: “I was gutted when I heard because it was so sudden. I have been working with the architects and artists since year seven.

“We really need new schools because we are not going to get any change in this town without them.”

Lily said: “I'm really disappointed in how it's just been sprung upon us.

"Last week, we did a presentation to head teachers; a week later, it's stopped.

“Students would have taken better care of their new school, because they helped to design it.”