HUNDREDS of pupils have still not been able to return to class more than a month after the Buncefield oil depot blast forced their school to close.

Townsend Church of England School in High Oaks, St Albans, has had to close its doors to the majority of pupils after the main boiler at the school was damaged beyond repair by the explosion, which happened on December 11.

Ceilings, light fittings, doors and windows also suffered damage, and the repair bill could total £160,000.

Last week the 250 pupils in Years 11, 12 and 13 were able to return to the school for lessons and exams, but children in other years at the school have been told to stay at home.

Some of the children allowed back to school are currently sitting their GCSE and A Level examinations, which have been organised in specially heated areas.

Classrooms are being heated by fan heaters bought by headteacher Andrew Wellbeloved after a smaller back-up boiler broke down.

A replacement part for the second boiler was being specially made by engineers and a third hot water boiler was being used to heat radiators to a low level.

The school, a voluntary-aided secondary school, is currently waiting for a temporary boiler to become available so that all 840 pupils, aged from 11 to 18, can return to lessons.

Mr Wellbeloved said: "Financially it's a real headache. We're going to have to find the money from somewhere but hopefully we will get some grant aid and insurance.

"The school suffered 69 areas of damage and I've been told we were the most badly-damaged school in the county. It's literally just flat fields between us and the depot.

"Because we're a voluntary-aided school it is our responsibility to sort it out and fund the repairs. Even the temporary repairs we are carrying out at the moment have cost about £7,000."

A parents' evening due to take place at the school on Tuesday had to be cancelled, as did a re-scheduled Christmas service at St Albans Abbey, which had been due to take place yesterday.

Teachers spent much of their Christmas break helping out at the school and secretarial staff have been busy relaying daily updates to parents by telephone. Regular notices are also being posted on the school's website.

Mr Wellbeloved added: "It's particularly distressing that we're still not fully open because we were closed a week earlier than we should have been before Christmas and the children are missing their education.

"Logistically it's a nightmare, I've been walking around the school constantly with a thermometer. We told the pupils who are in to wear their own warm clothing rather than school uniform.

"The pupils have been very good - we've got nearly 100 per cent attendance today for the years that are here."