A HEALTH and safety probe is under way after a school boiler blew up, injuring a workman.

Pupils and staff at Esh Winning Primary School, which has been open less than 12 months, were evacuated after the biomass boiler blew up.

Firefighters and an ambulance crew were sent to the school last Tuesday and a council workman, who had been called out after the boiler broke down, was rushed to hospital.

Chairwoman of governors Eileen Grimes said the board of governors had held an emergency meeting following the explosion.

She added: “None of the pupils were in danger, the boiler is a long way from the classrooms.

“But it is very disappointing that we have had such a lot of trouble with the boiler since the school was opened last April.

“It has been so unreliable that we have had to install electric heaters in the classrooms to prevent the children from being cold.

“We have been in contact with Durham County Council on numerous occasions to explain that the boiler is obviously faulty.

“Now that it has exploded we hope the county council will be spurred into action.”

Ms Grimes said the biomass boiler at Esh Winning Primary, and also a similar one at nearby Brandon, had now been taken out of the schools.

Brandon Primary is another new-build school.

Ms Grimes added that governors had written to Claire Vasey, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, demanding urgent action to rectify the faulty boiler.

John Reed, head of technical services at Durham County Council, said: “A member of the council’s staff is recovering after being treated for injuries sustained in an accident that occurred while he was working on a school boiler.

“It is always upsetting when anyone is injured while going about their work and colleagues have sent their very best wishes for his speedy recovery.

“At no time was there any risk to any pupils or staff at the school. The boiler was immediately shut down and made safe.

“As is the normal response in any accident of this nature the appropriate health and safety investigations are under way.”