The legal fight over the use of St Hardulph's Primary School, in Breedon on the Hill, has escalated to the extent it is set for the High Court.

In the past two years, the county council has stood firm and said the community association's use of the site must end.

This, it says, is because it is impairing the running of the school and has safety implications.

County Hall made an offer of £92,000 to the association to leave the building.

This has been rejected because they say it is their right to be there because they paid towards the building of the school more than 40 years ago.

E-mails leaked to the Leicester Mercury show that unknown to most people at the council and the village's community association, politicians were making deals in private.

Today, the community group at the centre of the legal battle said that Simon Jones was representing local people, but not them, in these negotiations.

The paperwork leaked to the Mercury shows a trail of e-mails starting on May 11, following a conversation between Councillor Nicholas Rushton and independent Simon Jones, who are contesting the Valley seat in the county council elections.

Mr Jones suggests to Coun Rushton that they should meet and writes: "You say that you are prepared to put your energies behind a campaign to get things brought to a conclusion, and that you will guarantee that a community building will be constructed whatever the outcome of legal proceedings.

"If we can achieve this together then fantastic."

Later that day, Coun Rushton replies: "Great news! Should get something to you this evening from David Parsons. It will promise all you want."

Later on May 11, council leader David Parsons writes to Simon Jones and Coun Rushton: "I am happy to give my personal commitment and that of the administration at County Hall to the provision of new community facilities at Breedon within the lifetime of the next council."

Coun Rushton also writes to Simon Jones saying: "I sincerely hope that you will now withdraw your candidacy and we can all move forward united and together."

The next morning, Simon Jones writes to Coun Rushton saying that he is ready withdraw his candidacy .

Coun Rushton replied to Simon Jones saying: "You have a written guarantee from me and the leader that a new facility will be delivered."

In reply to a member of his election team, Coun Rushton says: "If Simon was elected it would actually harm your chances of a new facility as the administration would treat Simon as an opposition party member. The best thing is for Simon to withdraw, we compose a joint leaflet setting out why and it will include mine and David's promises,"

As a result of this final statement, Simon Jones does withdraw. A member of his election team draws up a document explaining why he is standing down and setting out a timetable for when the new community centre will be built, with slots to be signed by Nicholas Rushton, David Parsons and him.

After this, events show that David Parsons refuses to sign it and the council sent the agreement to document to be looked at by police.