Light fittings cause school alert

A middle school in Suffolk has been evacuated and will be closed on Thursday after reports of a smell of burning in the building.

All pupils at the Great Cornard Middle School, near Sudbury, left the building as the smell was investigated.

A council spokeswoman said: "A number of suspect light fittings have been identified as the probable cause of the smell, and these are being replaced."

As a precaution, all other light fittings will have to be checked.

The school will be closed on Thursday to ensure this work can be completed.

The spokeswoman said: "All pupils are safe and well in the adjoining upper school.

"They have had lunch and parents are being contacted and asked to collect their children as soon as possible."

The fire service and electrical contractors attended and checked the building, said Suffolk County Council.