A SECONDARY school in Herefordshire has been told to shut its doors after a coronavirus outbreak among its pupils.

John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye said it would close early for the summer holidays after advice from Public Health England.

Headteacher Nigel Griffiths said there had been "a number of positive Covid-19 in the school this week in years seven, eight and nine".

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He said year nine had been hit particularly hard by the outbreak, and after talking with public health officials, were told to close early for the summer break, which was due to start on Friday.

"This is not a decision we have made lightly," Mr Griffiths said, saying the school had been told to close as a firebreak.

"We know that student have missed a lot of school this year.

"We also understand that this may be inconvenient for parents and carers. Nevertheless, we have to act on the advice [from] public health and Herefordshire local authority."

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Students who have been told to self-isolate must continue to do so, he said, and others should continue to maintain social distance and hygiene advice.

It's understood hundreds of students were told to self-isolate after being identified as a close contact of a confirmed case.

"We know that many other Herefordshire schools, including high schools, have been similarly affected with s large number of cases this week,” he added.

“This situation has been very fast moving and has presented unique challenges. Staff have been outstanding in the way they have handled the cases. I am also very grateful for the support from parents and carers.”

The move came after Wigmore School, in north Herefordshire, said it was dealing with a coronavirus outbreak which was "on a different scale" to anything it has seen previously.

It said year 10 pupils had been testing positive for Covid-19, and a mobile testing unit was being taken onto the school site to find out if any more students have the virus.