Hundreds of school children had to be evacuated today after emergency gas repairs had to be carried out on the street outside their school.
Children attending St Gabriel’s Primary School and nursery were moved as a precaution to the local church hall with residents in a number of houses also alerted to the incident.
East Lothian Council said SGN had advised them to move the children out of the school as they carried out repairs on South Grange Avenue, in the town.
The school, which has more than 230 pupils on its rolls, remains closed for the rest of today and parents and carers have been asked to collect youngsters from the hall.
A council spokesperson said: “School staff supported children to move in line with our planned emergency protocols and to settle in the space, which is familiar to them.
“School staff will remain with children for the rest of the day to care for any who cannot be collected. All children are safe and supported.
“SGN has informed us that two neighbouring properties have also been evacuated. The company is dealing directly with the householders affected.
“An emergency road closure has been put in place on South Grange Avenue between Grange Grove and Grange Crescent East. Our roads team is aware and assisting SGN with its traffic management.
“We continue to be in contact with SGN on the incident, likely timescales for repair and any support required and we will provide further information, including on timescales for school’s reopening, as soon as we can.”
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
