Staff and pupils are enjoying their new-look school which was refurbished after work was done during the summer holidays to remove asbestos.

Back to normal - Year Eight pupils enjoy a PE class at Alderman Blaxill School. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (38619-1)

A routine maintenance check found traces of asbestos in 11 classrooms, the main hall and a variety of corridors at Alderman Blaxill School last term.

Youngsters at the school were given a week off after the discovery that the toxic substance had been used in the construction of parts of the building.

Full safety checks were carried out to assess the risks to staff and pupils at the school before it was reopened.

Ian Poulter, headteacher of the secondary school, in Paxman Avenue, Colchester, said all the asbestos had been removed by workmen, who had issued a clearance certificate.

Published Wednesday, October 6, 2004

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