Primary school evacuated after building site explosion

Children and staff are accounted for and safe following an explosion at a building site at a primary school in England, say firefighters.

Eight fire engines and 40 firefighters were scrambled to the fire in the grounds of St George’s School in Weybridge, Surrey, at 12.37pm.

Local residents have reported hearing a loud explosion and large plumes of smoke have been coming from the scene.

A Surrey Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “We were called to a fire in Thames Street, Weybridge at 12:37 and have sent eight fire engines, a number of specialist vehicles and around 40 firefighters to the scene.

“We can confirm the exact location of the fire is a construction site on the premises of St Georges School in Thames Street, Weybridge, and everyone at the scene has been accounted for.”

A Surrey Police spokesman said that no injuries had been reported and they were assisting the fire service with road closures.

One person tweeted: “Never heard such an explosion in my life, thought it was game over.”

Weybridge's Liberal Democrat Elmbridge councillor Andrew Davis, who saw the fire from his office which overlooks the school, said he could see ``acrid and dark'' smoke rising from the roof top of a newly-built school building.

Pic via @AmyBravery.

He said he could see “very anxious” parents collecting their children and the youngsters were evacuated to a neighbouring playing field.

Mr Davis said: "There was an explosion and immediately black smoke went out in to the air which attracted a lot of attention.

“The roof of a new building that was under construction was on fire. I believe the children had been taken from the school to the playing fields next door.

“The smoke was acrid and dark and the reason it was so bad was because the materials that were burnt were tar-like flat-roof materials.”

The school includes a junior school, a reception and nursery.