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| Children evacuate blazing school | Children evacuate blazing school |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pupils, staff and nearby houses have been evacuated after fire broke out at a south Wales valleys primary school. | Pupils, staff and nearby houses have been evacuated after fire broke out at a south Wales valleys primary school. |
| Children and staff were taken to a local infants' school as the blaze badly damaged Coedpenmaen County Primary School in Trallwn, Pontypridd. | Children and staff were taken to a local infants' school as the blaze badly damaged Coedpenmaen County Primary School in Trallwn, Pontypridd. |
| Seven fire crews from several stations were called out as the fire took hold at lunchtime and the roof collapsed. | Seven fire crews from several stations were called out as the fire took hold at lunchtime and the roof collapsed. |
| South Wales Police said all staff and pupils were safe and no injuries had been reported. | South Wales Police said all staff and pupils were safe and no injuries had been reported. |
| It's sad: it's a lovely school but as long as the kids are safe, that's the main thing Parent Glynn Thomas | It's sad: it's a lovely school but as long as the kids are safe, that's the main thing Parent Glynn Thomas |
| Officials later confirmed that the school will be closed on Tuesday. | Officials later confirmed that the school will be closed on Tuesday. |
| Glynn Thomas, from Pontypridd, who was called at work to collect his eight-year-old daughter Emily, said: "The whole of the juniors has gone. | |
| "Emily was outside, they had lined up to go back in after break then someone saw smoke," he said. | "Emily was outside, they had lined up to go back in after break then someone saw smoke," he said. |
| "It's sad: it's a lovely school but as long as the kids are safe, that's the main thing." | "It's sad: it's a lovely school but as long as the kids are safe, that's the main thing." |
| Firefighters damp down around the shell of the buildingJessica Baker, aged eight, said: "We were going into lines and someone looking through the window saw there was a fire. | Firefighters damp down around the shell of the buildingJessica Baker, aged eight, said: "We were going into lines and someone looking through the window saw there was a fire. |
| "I really liked my school because I really learned a lot." | "I really liked my school because I really learned a lot." |
| Keren O'Brien, who has two children at the school, Emily, seven, and Gabrielle, ten, said she was told a dinner lady had spotted the fire during the lunch break. | Keren O'Brien, who has two children at the school, Emily, seven, and Gabrielle, ten, said she was told a dinner lady had spotted the fire during the lunch break. |
| "Gabrielle's teacher phoned me to tell me there had been a bad fire and said the girls had been evacuated to Trallwng Infants' School. | "Gabrielle's teacher phoned me to tell me there had been a bad fire and said the girls had been evacuated to Trallwng Infants' School. |
| "It was scary, but she reassured me they were fine. It was a very nice school. | "It was scary, but she reassured me they were fine. It was a very nice school. |
| "I did speak to one of the teachers who said it was going to be one or two weeks before they would know what they were going to do with the children." | "I did speak to one of the teachers who said it was going to be one or two weeks before they would know what they were going to do with the children." |
| Parents and guardians of pupils were asked to collect them from nearby Trallwng Infants' School in Bonvilston Road. | Parents and guardians of pupils were asked to collect them from nearby Trallwng Infants' School in Bonvilston Road. |
| Local councillor Mike Powell said: "My first concern was whether or not there had been any injuries to the children or staff. It's a depressing site, but no-one was injured. | Local councillor Mike Powell said: "My first concern was whether or not there had been any injuries to the children or staff. It's a depressing site, but no-one was injured. |
| Smoke billowed high into the air as firefighters hosed down flames"It's going to knock the community a lot because it was a real community school. It had brilliant staff and the kids loved coming to this school and unfortunately they've seen it disappear." | Smoke billowed high into the air as firefighters hosed down flames"It's going to knock the community a lot because it was a real community school. It had brilliant staff and the kids loved coming to this school and unfortunately they've seen it disappear." |
| South Wales Fire Service said fire crews from as far afield as Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil were called out. | South Wales Fire Service said fire crews from as far afield as Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil were called out. |
| Some people, such as the elderly, were allowed to stay in their houses, but were told to keep windows and doors closed. | Some people, such as the elderly, were allowed to stay in their houses, but were told to keep windows and doors closed. |
| Police said the fumes from the fire were not toxic but there was a lot of smoke. | Police said the fumes from the fire were not toxic but there was a lot of smoke. |
| They advised those unable to evacuate to stay indoors with all doors and widows closed. Rhondda Cynon Taf council said the fire was in one of the blocks at the school. | They advised those unable to evacuate to stay indoors with all doors and widows closed. Rhondda Cynon Taf council said the fire was in one of the blocks at the school. |
| The cause of the fire remains unknown. | The cause of the fire remains unknown. |
| The school, which is believed to have around 180 pupils, is close to the centre of Pontypridd and the main A470 trunk road. | The school, which is believed to have around 180 pupils, is close to the centre of Pontypridd and the main A470 trunk road. |