By Nora Parminter

CHILDREN and staff were evacuated from Landscore Primary School in Crediton on Thursday, May 19, at 10.15am when a gas pipe was damaged during building work at the school.

Workmen were digging drainage for the new early years unit when they hit a gas pipe.

An alarm at the school showed there was a problem and work stopped immediately. Head teacher Gary Read said: "Gas could be smelled in the building so we rang the fire bell to begin an orderly evacuation of the school.

"Within two minutes and five seconds 335 children and 30 members of staff had been evacuated from the building."

He added: "There is an emergency plan in place for this type of situation for the children to be taken to Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE) sports hall at Western Road, but there was an examination in progress and the children were taken to the hall at QE School’s Barnfield site instead."

Parents were contacted and many were able to collect their children from the school.

The children were given a drink and some food at QE school and spent some time out on the playing fields before being taken back to Landscore at 12.30pm when it was safe to do so.

Rupert Poole, principal of QE School said: "We were absolutely delighted to welcome the children and staff from Landscore Primary School.

"I would like to compliment the staff and also the students for their outstanding behaviour.

"I would also like to thank Andrew Drayton of Crediton Tesco Wellparks store for providing food and drink."