Hundreds evacuated from Mangotsfield Primary School after fire breaks out during Christmas show

Fire broke out at Mangotsfield Primary School today as more than 200 parents were watching some of the youngest pupils perform their Christmas show.

The fire, which was in a speaker, was quickly extinguished and the whole building evacuated.

Headteacher Marion Borland said in her newsletter home to parents tonight: "The fire alarm sounded today during our Year 1 Christmas production and, for the first time in my 30 years of teaching, there actually was a fire.

"Fire broke out in a speaker that was part of the school sound system and was efficiently extinguished within seconds of it starting.

"With over 200 adults and 120 children in our hall, as well as the rest of the school busy working in their own classrooms, we managed to evacuate the building quickly and efficiently.

"However as is often the case with events such as these, lessons have been learned and an action plan drawn up to ensure that our responses in future are even better than today’s.

"The fire brigade, local authority health and safety advisors and our alarm provider have all been consulted and we are confident that the school remains as safe as it possibly can be. Many thanks to all of those who attended the production for your patience and understanding throughout." The school is going ahead with its Christmas fair tomorrow from 11am to 2pm.