Parents left angry by a decision to repaint Pembroke Dock's famous 'Blue School' will definitely be seeing red next term.

When pupils start the new school year in September, Pembroke Dock Community School's bright blue will be replaced with a controversial choice of 'heritage red'.

Plans to re-paint the school were announced last week amid parent opposition.

Parents were made aware of plans to change the school's name and colour in a letter proposing a rebrand in April.

Headteacher Michele Thomas asked parents for help in choosing a new name and colour as part of the town's 2014 bicentenary celebrations and "to help the whole community move forward and away from the historical problems previously associated with this otherwise super school."

British racing green, gold ochre, Pembrokeshire pink and Spanish brown were among the colour options.

Some parents believed the change was an attempt to distance the school from the use of time out rooms and the jailing of a former headteacher in July 2009 for sexually assaulting young girls.

Nearly 500 people joined the Facebook group 'OFFICIAL Save Our BLUE School And Its Name' and dozens of parents protested outside the school.

A vote at a governors' meeting last Wednesday (June 12th) decided the school's name will stay, but the building will be re-painted over the summer holidays.

Parents' concerns included the cost, unnecessary change, the loss of history, a lack of consultation and no option to remain blue.

"What a waste of energy and money on their part," Barbara Laugharne wrote on the Facebook group page following the announcement.

Lacy Llewellyn wrote: "It will always be the blue school no matter what. We didn't have a say anyway because if they went by votes, I'm sure most of the letters that were handed in stated blue."

Child minder Katie Jones, from Kilgetty, has four children at the school and resigned from her position as a parent governor over the re-branding. She wrote a letter to governors and handed in a petition with hundreds of names on, according to Facebook.

"I know a vote was taken in school and the majority of the kids chose blue," she wrote.

There were also calls on the group page for the results of the consultation to be made public.

Headteacher Michele Thomas said: "This decision is the end result of an extensive consultation process with pupils, parents, staff and the community as a whole.

"All the responses received were read and informed the decision taken by governors."

The paint work will be funded through a private finance initiative agreement.