Wednesbury school closed as pipe bursts

Hundreds of pupils in Wednesbury were told to stay at home today due to a burst pipe.

The pipe in the western block of Wood Green Academy burst submerging part of the building in one inch of water and deactivating computer and phone systems.

Staff were alerted to the problem by an alarm sounding yesterday morning.

The school was shut to its 1,500 pupils today but remained open to staff, who were helping to clean-up.

Headteacher Pank Patel said it was a pipe that went to one of the toilets that did not function properly.

"At the moment we are waiting for the building to be made safe and doing what we can so we can use our electrical systems."

Mr Patel said they expected the systems to be up and running by lunchtime. He said the school in Wood Green Road would reopen tomorrow.