School closed over suspected gas leak

Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge is closed after a strong gas odour was detected

A school has been closed after a suspected gas leak.

The head teacher of Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge, Suffolk, said "a strong smell of gas was detected on site" on Tuesday evening.

Peter Smith said the gas supply had been shut off "as a precaution", meaning there would be no "hot water, heating and the ability to provide food across the site" on Wednesday, forcing it to shut.

He said pupils should "check their Teams account at 09:30 BST tomorrow (Wednesday) for online work that will be made available to them during the closure", and he hoped the school could reopen on Thursday.

In a message to parents and carers, Mr Smith said: "After school this evening (Tuesday) a strong smell of gas was detected on site, and readings indicated a potential leak.

"As a precaution, the gas supply to the school has been shut off while we await a contractor's visit to ensure everything is safe.

"As a result, I have made the decision to close the school on Wednesday 22 October.

"We fully expect to reopen as normal on Thursday 23 October, and I will send an update on Wednesday once we have confirmation that the site is safe."

Mr Smith added: "I apologise for the short notice and any disruption this may cause, but the decision has been made to ensure everyone's safety."