PUPILS at a Cricklade school will get an extra four days Christmas holiday to give staff time to clean up after a fire ripped through a computer room.

Hundreds of children were due back at St Sampson's Junior School in Bath Road on Thursday, January 6 but now they are being asked to stay away until 9am the following Monday.

Headteacher Andrew Hen-stridge said time was needed for the clean-up operation, which involves clearing out the computer room and cleaning surrounding smoke-damaged classrooms and corridors.

He said: "Towards the end of this week the computer suite will be emptied and the following week the clean-up operation will begin in earnest.

"There is a smell of smoke around some of the classrooms and corridors which has to be cleared.

"It's disappointing to have to open late it's all been a bit of a nightmare."

The school was forced to close for the last two days of term following the fire on Sunday, December 19.

"Everyone was devastated when it happened at the end of term but we are really upbeat now and are working together to pull us through," said Mr Henstridge.

"The fire brigade is still investigating and we haven't heard anything about what caused it."

Flames twice the height of the building were seen as it took hold.

Several people phoned 999 when the fire broke out just after 8pm.

Jeff Griffiths, 61, was one of the first to raise the alarm.

"I was walking home from the church service and I noticed that flames were coming from the junior school," he said.

"The flames were bursting through the windows."

Firefighters from Swindon, Stratton, Westlea and Gloucestershire joined a crew based at a station across the road from the school to tackle the blaze.

The Cricklade crew stayed at the scene all night.

An investigation into its cause has been launched and arson has not been ruled out.

The school is still calculating the cost of the damage. Sixteen desktop computers, as well as laptops, were in the room.

The facility is not expected to reopen for several months but pupils will have access to computers in other classrooms.

Anyone with information about the fire can phone Swindon police on 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ben Payne