A Shropshire mother was forced to go 36 hours without sleep after her children’s school closed due to the number of staff off sick.

Tilstock CofE Primary School, near Whitchurch, was closed on a temporary basis this week due to the number of staff and pupils absent or displaying flu-like symptoms. Sharon Edwards, who has four children at the school, said the situation had been blown out of proportion.

She said she had been forced to go 36 hours without sleep because she had to juggle working nights and looking after her children, who are well, when they would otherwise have been at school.

She had also been forced to ask someone to look after her children while she studies for a City and Guilds qualification.

She said it had been a “nightmare” and the children had been left with no education and had not been sent home with any work.

But other parents say they have not been affected by the closure.

Rosalyn Butler, from the village, said she had not been affected because she does not work.

She said the whole family, including Edward, three, and six-year-old Louise had suffered from flu-like symptoms. She said: “Everyone needed to rest and get better. I was pleased they shut the school.”

One mother with four children at the school, who asked not to be named, said all of her children had been ill.

She said: “Luckily I don’t work at the moment so I haven’t struggled to take any time off work but I think it would have been a different story if I had.”

Jo Basford, chair of governors and also a working parent, said the decision to close the school was not taken lightly.

She has been looking after her six-year-old daughter Rachel, who has been suffering from flu-like symptoms.

She said:”Fifty per cent of the staff were off but the remaining staff were struggling into school.”

It is hoped the school will re-open on Monday. Tim Smith, of Shropshire Council, said: “Information updates for parents will continue on the Shropshire Council website www.shropshire.gov.uk and via the local media.”