CHILDREN who were told they could not go back to school because the building was in danger of collapsing started term on Monday - two weeks late.

More than 100 pupils at Bolton Parish Church School were taken to the former Longsight Primary School in Harwood, where they will be taught until their school is safe again.

Council bosses closed the school, in Kestor Street, because of fears that subsidence and drainage problems would see the playground falling more than 30 feet into a river. The school could be bulldozed and rebuilt.

Parents were sent letters informing them the Autumn term would be delayed and that buses would take pupils to Harwood from Monday.

The site has suffered over the years from minor subsidence and drainage problems, which have been closely monitored by the council.

Following the extremely wet weather in August, tests were carried out on the site which showed that the school playing fields were at risk from subsidence.

Longsight Primary School, on Hough Fold Way, had closed in May because of falling pupil numbers but will now remain open until Bolton Parish Primary School is operational.

An open day for parents at Longsight is set to be arranged.