Fortunately the school is in one of the areas not so badly affected and has made contact with leader of Leicestershire County Council to allay fears over pupils' safety.
And Mr Parsons and David Webb, Leicestershire's chief fire officer, have pled
ged to do whatever they can to help in the aftermath.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is on stand-by and has helped with similar natural disasters overseas. The service has canine search teams and specialist search and rescue skills.
Sichuan is the sister province of Leicestershire and the two have been twinned for 20 years.
Mr Parsons said: "I am extremely relieved to hear that the young people and staff in most of the schools twinned with our schools are safe but very concerned about the situation in Mianyang, as we have had no contact.
"I am receiving regular updates from the Sichuan government and have sent my sympathies to all of the twinned schools affected and to everyone involved in this tragic natural disaster. We maintain our offer to do anything we can to help and are shocked and dismayed at the extent of the devastation."
The full article contains 232 words and appears in Melton Times newspaper.
