HUNDREDS of children were unable to attend school today after an electricity fault forced its closure.

Stephen Freeman Community Primary School in Didcot informed parents yesterday that it would not be feasible to open today due to 'an ongoing electrical problem.'

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A post on the school's website stated: "Electrical engineers have been able to provide a short term solution to our problem today [Thursday] but will require a 4-6 hour period of time to carry out a long term solution.

"We are unable to open school without sufficient electrical power as we not only rely on this for our lighting and technology, the use of a kitchen and provision of hot water supply is essential in any place of work.

"In addition to this our fire alarm will only work on a back up battery charge for a matter of hours, I am sure you understand that it would simply not be safe to have the children in school with no power."

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The school teaches 420 pupils and is due to reopen as normal on Tuesday, after the bank holiday break.