'Mystery smell' school to reopen

The school will reopen in early December

Pupils at a Northumberland school can go back into their classrooms after work to rid the site of mystery fumes.

Youngsters at Embleton First School were forced to start their new term in September in the village hall, because of the bad smell.

The strange petro-chemical aroma had been noticed by pupils and staff for about two years, but the source could not been traced.

Towards the end of the summer term, fire brigade investigators convinced the governors the school should be evacuated.

The 43 pupils were shipped to the nearby Creighton Hall, where they have been having lessons.

But now the school has been given the all-clear and is due to reopen in early December.

Petrol was found in nearby drains, but experts are still unsure of its source.

But the site has been declared safe and special traps have been fitted to the drainage system to prevent any petrol seeping into classrooms.

Officers from Northumberland County Council and Alnwick District Council environmental health department, say they will monitor the situation.

They are being assisted by the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water.