ROYAL Wootton Bassett students were back at schools today after the Wiltshire water shortage.

Thousands of people were left without running water after a burst pipe caused the 15 million-litre Flaxlands reservoir to empty.

It was touch-and-go for Lime Kiln’s Royal Wootton Bassett academy with water only returning at 3am this morning.

And head teacher George Croxford said he was relieved that it was back to school for the academy’s 1,800 students, just in time for the GCSE period to begin.

“I’m pretty relieved and happy, I’m absolutely delighted as it’s one less thing to worry about," he said.

"The students seem happy to be in school and it’s good to be back in the routine.

“We had a contingency plan in place to ensure the school could open and we were prepared to implement that. Thames Water also said they would provide us with a water tanker it but it’s all worked out now.”

With Noremarsh junior school also reopening today after two days closure, it’s business as usual for Wootton Bassett schoolchildren.

A Thames Water spokesperson confirmed that water supply had resumed across affected areas.

"Water returned to Wootton Bassett and Lyneham throughout yesterday with most customers back to normal by early evening," he said.

"When water comes back into the pipes we sometimes find small pockets where water is not returning as expected because of air locks - so we would ask anyone who is still experiencing difficulties to call us and let us know so we can investigate.

"We’re sorry to all those inconvenienced and we’re very grateful for their patience over the last few days.”