London: The British government is spending 110,000 pounds on a century-old school which has no students on the rolls but a headteacher, a caretaker and board of governors on the roster.

The classrooms of the Ysgol Capel Iwan Primary School near Newcastle Emlyn in Carmarthenshire, which opened in 1888, have been empty since the last 12 students walked out at the end of this summer's term.

Another five pupils were expected to come back in September, but education officials have now been told their parents are reluctant to put their children at a school with only a handful of schoolmates, reports Daily Express.

Even if the government decides to shut down the school, the process could take more than a year. And, while it remains open, the school must be staffed by a headteacher and overseen by a governing body.

"It's just silliness and very costly for us," said Leuan Jones, the county council's education chairman.

Robert Sully, director of special projects at the council, added, "We have the school still open. The teacher continues and we have to have a chair and a governing body for a school that has no pupils.

"We've talked to the Welsh Assembly and the answer we were given is, 'You have to go through the process'."

Headteacher Sian Thomas will remain employed by the school at least until the end of December, though she will be given other duties.

She said, "I've been there for just six years which is a very short time compared to some of the staff over the years. But I'm very, very sad to see it close." IANS