ALL pupils except reception youngsters were back behind their desks at Williton's St Peter's First School yesterday (Thursday) after a mammoth mop-up operation.

As reported in last week's Free Press, children had some extra time off at the end of their festive break after frozen water pipes burst and flooded three classrooms.

Year four children were allowed back on Wednesday, while years one, two and three returned yesterday.

Executive headteacher Ian Bradbury said damp from the flooded years one, three and four classrooms had unexpectedly affected the reception class, which would remain closed until Monday.

He said the school hall had been converted into a temporary classroom for year three, while lessons were getting back to normal for the other years.

He told the Free Press: "The damage was far worse than we had feared and has caused considerable disruption.

"All staff were in on Wednesday planning lessons to make sure the return to school was as seamless as possible for the children.

"I am having a meeting with the insurance company on Saturday (tomorrow) and we will get the contractors in to repair the damage as soon as the rooms have been cleared and dried."

He said the school has lost children's work, textbooks, furniture and storage cupboards to the flood.

But he praised the response of both staff and parents: "The support and understanding we have had from parents and the local education authority has been superb," Mr Bradbury said.