Devon schoolchildren write to Boris Johnson asking for help to replace their condemned classroom

Children at a primary school in Devon have written to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson pleading for a new classroom.

The current learning space at Lapford Community Primary School is rotten. It was built in the 1960s and was only meant to last 10 years, but 50 years later it has finally been condemned.

The school has made five bids for the money to replace but has been turned down each time.

Michael Johnson the Executive Head of Chulmleigh Academy Trust that runs the school, does not understand why they have been rejected.

He says, "We're completely despondent about it. We don't know what to do, to be honest with you any more. We've gone through the process, we've waited in the queue and every time we wait we're told 'wait a little longer'."

• South Gloucestershire school says it cannot afford to stay open

Now the pupils have put pen or pencil to paper to ask the PM for help.

• Mental health charity warns that isolation could have a long term impact on children

The children cannot use the classroom, which is fenced off because it has now become dangerous.

For now, preschool, reception and Year 1 children are sharing their room - which is particularly worrying given the need for more space because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department for Education says it has allocated £2 billion to maintain schools this year.

It adds, "We appreciate that the unsuccessful funding bids made by the school will have been disappointing. All bids are thoroughly assessed against published criteria, so that we can prioritise those with the greatest need."

Around £400,000 is needed to solve the problem, which has become increasingly urgent as the school is expecting a larger than usual preschool intake this September.

• Watch Bob Cruwys' report on the Devon schoolchildren desperate for a new classroom