EMERGENCY rewiring is being carried out at a primary school after the electrics were found to be a fire risk.

Surveyors found "serious deterioration of the wiring" at Eatock Primary School in Westhoughton during a routine inspection.

Bolton Council was told the electrics required immediate replacement to remove the risk of fire.

A report said: "This work should proceed immediately."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "The health and safety of everyone in our schools is our priority. The risk was extremely low but nevertheless it was a risk we were not prepared to take.

"Immediate action was taken and work began after Christmas. The majority of work has now been completed and is due to end during the half-term break. There has been no disruption to the teaching programme throughout this time."

The school's 250 pupils are still being taught in the building in St George's Avenue.

The work is estimated to cost £40,000. A quarter of it will be paid for by the school with the rest coming from the council's building and maintenance programme.

Workers are carrying out the rewiring out of school hours to stop the work from disrupting lessons.

Headteacher Naomi Richardson said: "The school underwent a regular survey, and it was decided the wiring needed updating and was carried out straight away.

"If there had been a serious health and safety risk we would have been closed down."