PUPILS at Lapford Primary School are so desperate for a new classroom to replace the one they have recently evacuated because it is no longer safe, that they have used some of their writing practice time to send letters to Santa – appealing to him to bring them the gift of a new classroom.

Clare Wilmott, Head of School said: “Our teachers and support staff work so hard to provide the best learning environment so our children can make great progress.

"After six unsuccessful bids, our school is making another bid to the Department for Education for a new classroom.

"The old one has been evacuated; it’s falling down.

“It’s typical of our children and community to put the school first, and I’m so pleased that this issue is now Mel Stride’s top priority, so we are looking forward to hearing about the outcome to our bid in the spring.

"If there is another school which deserves a successful bid more than us, we’d like to know about it.

"The walls of the building are bowing and it is surrounded by a fence to keep us away from it as it is dangerous.”

Local Councillor Clive Eginton, former leader of Mid-Devon District Council, visited the school on Thursday, December 17 and said: “In this day and age for our children to be taught in an environment like this is impossible.

"The classroom is in an appalling state. Children, our children, deserve better.”