MORE than 100 Leominster schoolchildren enjoyed an extended Christmas holiday earlier this week after a huge volume of water from a burst pipe crashed through a ceiling and flooded classrooms.

Parents of Year 3 children at Leominster Junior School were contacted by telephone and asked to keep the youngsters at home after four classrooms were saturated and carpets were ruined.

Caretaker Paul Smith, who had earlier repaired a less serious leak, was busy at the school last Thursday when he heard rushing water.

A copper water main above one of the Year 3 rooms had burst causing half the ceiling to collapse and sending a cascade into the room.

Mr Smith, who made twice-daily checks at the school through the holidays, acted swiftly to limit the damage with help from 'reinforcements' - members of his family turned out to help with mopping up.

Teaching staff all geared up for the start of the new term were saddened by the disaster. Their soaked rooms were redecorated and carpets were renewed within the last six months.

Head teacher Ian Foster said on Monday: "If Paul had not been on site and had not been so conscientious the damage could have been a lot worse.

"I took the decision to close that section of the school, in consultation with the chairman of governors and the education authority, until we were sure the area is safe for pupils and staff to return.''

He added yesterday that, thanks to the efforts of workmen, teachers and cleaners, Year 3 children would be starting back at school today, Thursday.

Re-roofing work on the problem area of the school, which also suffers from condensation, will be carried out in the summer holidays say county officials.

Mr Foster said great efforts had been made to guard against pipes freezing. Heating, controlled from Hereford, had twice been boosted during the holiday at Mr Smith's request. In the event, the school had been "beaten" by ageing pipe-work in part of the building that had never been satisfactory, said Mr Foster.

Hot air dryers were brought in at the weekend and the heating system was turned up to full power in a bid to dry out the saturated area.

l A Herefordshire Education Authority spokesman said it was estimated the damage at Leominster Junior School would cost between £15,000 and £18,000 to put right.