Parents of children at a special needs school rocked by allegations that a teacher hit a young girl held a crisis meeting yesterday evening to address the situation.

However, the chairman of the gathering refused to tell what happened or even where it took place.

As previously reported, Laura Delgaty served a three-day suspension following the alleged incident at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy several months ago.

She went on a period of leave before returning to work at the school on Monday.

Some parents have called for her resignation and threatened to boycott the school on Military Road, Devonshire, citing concerns about the safety of their children.

Commenting on the situation at the weekend, Ms Delgaty hit back, saying she felt she had been ?unrelentingly persecuted by the administration at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and by a handful of parents.?

Ifor Hughes, who chaired last night?s meeting, said the majority of the parents of the 17 students at the Academy had turned up.

?The meeting was useful and a couple of things came out of it which we are going to explore,? he said.

But, explaining that it would not be appropriate to reveal details, he added: ?One of the things we talked about this evening is about pursuing things with those in a position to try to take steps to make changes.?

He declined to comment further, or to reveal the location of the meeting, but stressed that he had chaired it in his capacity as a parent rather than in his role as chairman of the Parent Teachers Association.