A group of parents hoping to open a free school in West Hampstead next year have seen its bid rejected by the Department of Education.

An application to open the West Hampstead International School (WHIS) - which had received the backing of 2,000 parents - was submitted to the government back in May.

Providing education to children aged four to 18 from Camden, Westminster and Brent, the group intended the school to specialise in languages and music and was hoping to open in September next year.

But this week the group said its bid to open in 2015 had been rejected.

The WHIS team said: “We are immensely disappointed and very sorry to have let down our many supporters.

“We are awaiting feedback before we decide how to proceed.”