A PRIVATE school which parents say they were told had been shut down was open for business as normal  today.

Worried mums and dads say they were told by staff on Friday that Grafton House Preparatory School in Ashton under Lyne was closing for good.

But confusion reigned over the bank holiday weekend – and today children were being dropped off as normal at the gates of the Warrington Street school.

One mother, who did not want to be named, said that she had been informed on Friday that the school would be closing but then received a phone call on Saturday to say that it would open again.

She said: "I was really worried about it because we like the school and didn't want to have to look for a new one.

"We got a phone call on Saturday to say there had been a mistake and were very relieved because my son likes going here.

"I don't know what had caused the confusion but there's supposed to be a meeting later this week to explain."

And the owner of the school, who refused to give her name, insisted that the school was open for business as usual.

She said that information had been given out because of an "internal error" and said that parents had been contacted over the weekend to clarify the situation.

She said: "This is something that happened last week when I wasn't here. The school is very popular and people do want to stay here. We have apologised to parents for the confusion."

Grafton House has places for about 100 children and was praised last year by an Ofsted inspector.

It is understood that at least one parent has found another temporary school for their child.

Bosses from Tameside Education Education Authority said they would be contacting the school today.

Grafton House opened in 1991, but was facing closure in 1996 before being taken over and turned into a successful business.