TWO-thirds of fire-ravaged Coney Green High School at Radcliffe will be out of action when the 550 pupils return for the new term next Thursday.

A major portion of the Spring Lane building will be closed off to staff and children as repair work continues in the wake of last month's devastating blaze.

Fifteen temporary classroom units have been sited in the playground to ensure lessons are not disrupted.

The cabins, together with a temporary kitchen and dining area, will be pressed into action immediately next week.

During the past eleven days the playground has resembled a building site, with cranes and other heavy plant being deployed to fix and position the units in place.

Last month an arson attack destroyed three classroms and the dining area in one wing of the school.

Because of extensive smoke damage and the fact that workmen will be in the building for weeks to come, however, two-thirds of the school will be out of commission.

A Bury Council education spokesman said: "Apart from the three classrooms which were destroyed in that particular wing, the rest of that area sustained smoke damage.

"It means many of the children being taught in the temporary classrooms in the playground."

The smoke-damaged areas should be ready for occupation after the half-term break in October.

But at this stage it is not known when the three blaze-hit classrooms will ultimately reopen.

Added the spokesman: "At the moment, the contractors are putting the temporary classrooms on site and other contractors are involved in repair work inside the main building.

"While this area is being worked on, it will not be accessible to pupils."

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