Rifles and ammunition belonging to the Selkirk Rifle Club have been stored in the school's basement.

But it had emerged that many of the 200 parents were unaware the club was using Knowepark Primary in Selkirk as a shooting range.

The school board has now sent letters to all the parents asking them if the club should continue its use of a disused boiler room and former air raid shelter.

No action

Club members said they have operated from the building - which has a separate entrance - for nearly 40 years and have never had a single complaint.

They also said they have complied with every regulation laid down by the local authority, the army and the police.

But some critics said questions need to be asked of the police and local education department officials for allowing such a club to continue its use of primary school property in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy.

The school board's chairman, former artillery officer Warwick Shaw, said: "The deadline for replies from parents has now passed, but as chairman of the school board I won't say what the response was until after we have met next week."

No action will be taken to move the club unless parents demand it: if that is the case, the school board will ask the council to intervene.