Angry parents of Saffron Green Primary School pupils have hit back at claims that their children hail from underprivileged backgrounds.

At a recent meeting of the Borehamwood Local Education Forum headteacher at the school Deborah Purrett said that the school was witnessing an achievement gap after Hertfordshire County Council cut funding for specialist teachers.

She said the school was suffering because some of the pupils were from underprivileged backgrounds with English as a second language.

In a letter to The Borehamwood and Elstree Times a group of parents said they were "affronted' to be described as living in a deprived area.

"We can assure you that we are certainly not deprived and although some of our pupils have special needs, it is an insult to all of us hard working parents to make such a statement.

"Saffron Green has always done well and had a good reputation.

"The type of pupils and parents have not changed," the letter stated.