Shameful and disgraceful.

That is Michael MHK David Cannan's description of the Department of Education's decision to close the special needs unit at Jurby.

The move was taken after a survey of need around the Island showed Douglas and Onchan will need more staff, while only three children will need the Jurby unit in the next year

However a mother of one the children concerned says she will chain herself to the school gate in order to save the unit, and she claims that Education Minister David Anderson hasn't consulted parents about the decision and isn't listening to their views

Mr Cannan (pictured) says there are just two children at the special needs unit in Ramsey with two teachers, at Jurby there are five with just one teacher, and he accuses the Minister of not caring: