EIGHTY-FIVE school children have been temporarily left without school places in September after plans to build a secondary free school fell through.

The Harris Federation and the Department for Education had identified land in the borough at Fiddlers Reach, just off of London Road, Grays, for the school but were trumped by an offer from Procter & Gamble who will now expand their production facilties.

The Harris Federation is now expected to look for a new site to open in 2016.

Labour politicians slammed the news and the delay in government funding approval.

Council Leader and education portfolio holder John Kent said: “I feel for the children and their families, but this should never have been left to the last minute.

"I know this is dreadful news for the families who were hoping to go to the new school, but this problem was not of the council’s making and in fact we have been working incredibly hard keeping up the pressure on the Department for Education to let us know their plans so we can make sure nobody is left in the lurch."

Polly Billington, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Thurrock said: "Parents have been let down by their Tory MP who has promised and failed to deliver: Even worse she has claimed victory before it was signed and sealed. I fear the result will be a Labour council having to clear up a mess made by the Tories.”

In response, Jackie Doyle-Price, Conservative MP for Thurrock, said: "This is obviously great news for the local economy, but in the absence of a secured site for the school, Harris is left with no choice but to defer opening to 2016.

"This will be of great disappointment to the parents of the 85 children who have been offered places this September. These children are the immediate priority and we must make sure that they are all awarded suitable alternative places."

She added: "It is unfortunate that we have lost out on the land to make this third school happen this year. We will deliver this school, just as we have the previous two."