School evacuated over gas leak in car park

Gas board workers have been working in the school's car park

Hundreds of school pupils were sent home because of a gas leak.

Students and staff were told to leave Thornhill Academy, Sunderland, after the leak just before 08:30 BST.

The school said it had ordered a "full-site evacuation" as a precaution, and would remain closed until Monday.

Several workers from the gas board are on the scene and have dug up a section of the school's car park.

Thornhill is run by Consilium Academies and teaches more than 500 11 to 16-year-olds.

The school would reopen on Monday, leaders said

School leaders said teachers would be uploading work for pupils to do at home, while deliveries of food to those in receipt of free school meals would be made on Friday.

"The academy thanks all parents and carers for their swift response to today's incident," they said.

"This incident was entirely beyond our control, and we are incredibly proud of how Thornhill students conducted themselves."

The school said a smell of gas had been identified in its car park, prompting the closure.

The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said it had sent two fire appliances, and had stayed at the scene for just under three hours.