'Toxic gas leak school' to remain closed until Easter

A school in Stafford which was closed in October because of a toxic gas leak will remain shut until Easter.

Flash Ley Primary School was evacuated on 2 October when 20 children fell ill, suffering from nausea and vomiting.

• Read: Pupils ill after 'mystery smell' forces school to close

Experts later confirmed that the smell was caused by a leak of formaldehyde. The chemical was present in ducts under the school's corridors, after builders made repairs to them over the summer holidays.

• Read: What is Formaldehyde?

Staffordshire County Council has now written to parents to inform them that the school will remain shut until Easter at the earliest.

Pupils will continue to be taught at the nearby Chetwynd Centre, Tillington Manor Primary and Stafford Manor High when the new school term starts in January.

• Report: Public meeting about toxic gas scare at Stafford school

In a statement, County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills, said: