PUPILS at fire-ravaged Bincombe Valley Primary School will start their autumn term one week late because temporary classrooms have to be installed.

The education authority had feared the school in Littlemoor, Weymouth, would not be able to re-open for some time following the blaze which gutted the junior block on Thursday.

Now swift work by the fire service, school and Dorset County Council has meant it will be open sooner than expected - on Monday, September 13.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: "Temporary classrooms and toilets will be provided on the school site, with the first classrooms arriving on Wednesday.

"These will take time to set up and equip, but it is proposed to delay the start of the school term for just one week, with the school re-opening on Monday, September 13.

"It is likely that the current building will be out of action for some considerable time.

"Offers of help from the local community have been welcomed and the school appreciates the continued support from parents over this difficult period."

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is still investigating the cause of the fire and the repair bill is expected to runs into tens of thousands of pounds.

Education officers, teachers and insurers met last Friday to hammer out contingency plans and a professional salvage team will be appointed to clean up the mess.

Head teacher Les Strong said: "The teachers are very sad and upset - lots of them have been to see the school.

"Our next aim is to cover the roof and see what can be saved.

"We had packed most things away into big plastic sacks to protect them from the dust while contractors were on site carrying out plumbing and heating work.

"The bags are blackened, but have helped to preserve an awful lot of stuff.

"Now we just have to wait for the report to come from the fire brigade."

County council education officer, Richard Malyan, said: "It is too early to say what caused the fire.

"It is devastating for any school to have to go through this.

"But it is amazing to see how people are gelling and pulling together.

"They are getting on with what needs to be done in tremendous fashion to get the school up and running again."