A BID to create a new primary school was dealt a blow today (Wednesday), after education chiefs gave a thumbs down for the project.

Parents in Hitchin met with the Department for Education last month to put forward a case for a free school in the north of the town.

But they learned this week that their bid was rejected by the Government department.

Michael Gove, education secretary, did however give the green light to 102 other free schools, creating more than 50,000 extra school places nationwide.

See tomorrow’s Comet for the full story.