STAFF and students were evacuated from Swanmead Community School, in Ilminster, last week, due to a suspected gas leak.

Members of staff at the school were concerned about the strong smell of gas shortly before 1.15pm last Tuesday – right at the start of the school lunch break.

All staff and pupils made their way out onto the back field, with many leaving their lunch to get out safely.

Following a phone call to the emergency line, gas board assistance arrived and carried out a full check of the school building.

The school was deemed safe to return into at 3pm, with many of the children and staff having not eaten lunch.

Despite the dilemmas of food and the need to go to the toilet, the school was helped out amazingly by its community friends from Tesco.

Children were guided over to the local store by staff in order to pop to the toilet and, in a moment of great generosity, Tesco supplied the hungry children with sandwiches, crisps, fruit and chocolate rolls.

Headteacher Mark Walker said: “The situation was obviously not ideal, but as is always the case with situations like this, the safety and welfare of children and staff comes first.

“The smell of gas was really quite strong and arrived almost instantaneously. Our decision to evacuate was immediate.”

Mr Walker added: “We were extremely grateful to the kindness of our colleagues at Tesco.

“Their response to the situation we found ourselves in was to immediately grab a trolley and fill it with food for us to take over to our pupils and staff.

This was an incredible gesture and something that the little stomachs of our pupils were extremely grateful for...and indeed the stomachs of the staff!!”

The cause of the gas leak was thought to be related to a localised issue, which prompted several calls to emergency centres for assistance on Tuesday afternoon.