Yatton Infant School will look for temporary classrooms after fire

The fire started on Monday afternoon

An infant school may relocate some of its classrooms after half of its roof and parts of its building were destroyed by a fire.

Yatton Infant School in Somerset suffered a significant fire on Monday, which multiple crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service attended.

There were no injuries reported and an investigation into the blaze has determined its cause was accidental.

The school's headteacher said the damage caused was "heartbreaking".

In a short statement, Yatton Infant School said it would contact parents over the next week to confirm where their children would be educated.

The fire has badly damaged the school

Jo Keeble, head teacher at the school, said she was "devastated".

"I did not think it would get me like this. For my school, my students, the community - it is just heartbreaking," she said.

Gary Lewis, chief executive of Lighthouse Schools Partnership - which runs the school - said staff were working on finding alternative classrooms while the building was repaired.

Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Mr Lewis said the partnership would work with North Somerset Council to arrange transport to get children to attend school elsewhere.

The school expects to need to arrange for at least 100 of 300 pupils to be educated elsewhere, and the option of bringing temporary buildings onto the school site is being discussed.

The community's response has been described as "amazing"

Mr Lewis said the response from locals had been "just amazing", as offers of help had come in from community groups and other schools.

Yatton pub the Market Inn has set up a fundraising campaign to contribute to the cost of "rebuilding, restocking and restoring our school to its former glory".

"It shows how much spirit there is in Yatton and shows this school is central to the life and community," Mr Lewis said.

People have been asked to stay away from the site as emergency services continue their work.

The High Street was shut by Avon and Somerset Police on Monday, but reopened on Tuesday morning.

No one was inside the building when the fire broke out due to it being half term, including the school's pet hamsters.