Barrow's Walney School carries out bug investigation after closure

The school was closed after reports some of the pupils had been bitten by the mites

An investigation is under way to find out what type of insect infested a school and forced it to close.

Walney School in Barrow-in-Furness shut on 21 September after reports about 20 students had been bitten by what was thought to be harvest mites.

The bugs were found in the roof of the school's new £6m extension, leading to a need for alternative accommodation.

A spokesman for the school said samples of the insects were now being analysed to determine what species are present.

The school said is was important to "fully understand" what was happening before deciding on what "further action" to take.

The 700 pupils are currently studying a shortened timetable in the school's old building.

A spokesman said: "We continue to work closely with the county council and development of options for alternative accommodation, should they be needed, are progressing well.

"We would like to thank parents and pupils... we appreciate the inconvenience that this will have caused."