DETERMINED teachers and schoolchildren are settling into their brand-new building after a year in temporary classrooms.

Staff and pupils at Bincombe Valley primary school, Littlemoor, Weymouth, were forced to move to three double temporary classrooms in the car park after a fire gutted the junior block in August last year.

But now the building work has been completed and everyone is pleased to be returning to a more permanent block.

Headteacher Les Strong said: "I suppose you could liken it to living in a caravan for some time.

"It's just nice to get back home."

The new block comprises five classrooms with 'state of the art' white boards.

It also has a new computer room with Internet access, a medical room and new male and female toilets.

Mr Strong said: "It looks quite impressive.

"I'd like to say thank you to Bluestone, the company which restored it.

"What a terrific job Bluestone did, and the children were really impressed with what they saw."

Parents were also invited to see the new building after its first day's use.

More than 150 pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 adapted to using temporary classrooms after the fire on August 25, 2004.

Ecclesiastical Insurance estimated that at least £500,000 worth of damage was caused by the fierce blaze.

Plans for the new junior block got under way last September and were completed on schedule for the autumn term this year.

Several members of staff spent their half-term making sure the new block was ready for pupils returning after the half-term break.

The grass area near the block has been re-seeded but may take several months to establish itself again.

One of the only items salvaged from the fire was an old clock, which is now on display in the new block.

Mr Strong said the clock was singed round the edges and had stopped at 12.41am when the fire was thought to be at its worst.

He added: "It's just a little reminder of what happened and all the hard work that went into preparing the new building."