A Devonport community college will shut in the summer after city councillors voted unanimously to close it because of falling pupil numbers.

Parkside Community College currently has 175 pupils, but this figure is expected to drop to just 88 by 2012.

Head teacher Valena Jones said the school provided a good education, but reluctantly accepted it was no longer economically viable.

"The future of the school has been uncertain since the local authority first published the Ideas for Change plan in 2004, and now the final decision from the local authority has brought the matter to a conclusion," Mrs Jones said.

Colin Pidduck, chair of governors, described the closure as a "very sad day" for the Devonport community.

He said: "This will be the end of an era for secondary education in Devonport and, even with the extensive regeneration in progress and planned for the future, I can't see Devonport ever regaining its own secondary school."

Parents who fought hard to keep the school open said they were devastated by the decision.

One of the parents said: "It is so disappointing for the whole community, the whole area."

The decision to close Parkside was made by Plymouth City Councillors at a meeting on Tuesday 27 May.