A primary school in East Ayrshire has been closed after part of a classroom ceiling collapsed last week.

The plasterwork rubble was discovered at Hurlford Primary School by the head teacher on Friday, 17 September. It is believed the ceiling collapsed overnight.

The council said it carried out further investigations with a contractor that day and discovered five classes which "could be susceptible to similar issues".

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As a result, the school's pupils will be decanted to Loudoun Academy from Monday, 26 September and the local authority suggested these measures will be in place until next June.

In a statement, the council said: "From Monday 26 September all pupils will be decanted to Loudoun Academy, where sufficient space has been identified. In response to concerns raised by parents over the weekend we have endeavoured to keep the entire school together and not split classes across different establishments.

"Please be assured that the building is not dangerous; these are precautionary measures to ensure there is no further disruption to education provision. The likelihood is that these decant arrangements will be in place until June 2017. This will provide continuity and a settled teaching environment for the children."

(LM/MH)