A primary school has been forced to close after children were left unable to reach it without walking through debris left by a flood of sewage.

Floodwater, which the school warned had been contaminated with sewage surrounded Batheaston Church School, causing staff close today (Monday, November 25).

The flood did not enter the building and it is expected to be open again on tomorrow.

Headteacher Sally Jeffries said: “We were forced to close our school today due to heavy flooding caused by a combination of factors: a local brook outside the school grounds overflowing, drain issues on School Lane, the accumulation of leaves and the general wet weather over the weekend with Storm Bert.

“This led to external flood water and sewage reaching both our front and back playgrounds, meaning children had no access to the school without walking through the debris which remained once the water had receded. Therefore in the interests of health and safety, we had no choice but to close for the day.

“Fortunately the interior of the school has not been affected. The drier conditions today mean we are now able to clean up and we plan to be open tomorrow (Tuesday).

“In the past we have suffered minor flooding issues, although this has not been a problem for quite some time. However, this is the second time this year that we have encountered flooding problems within the playground — the first not as serious as this weekend’s. Therefore we are speaking to a flooding expert with a view to implementing measures to prevent problems in the future.

“We will also be speaking to the council about their responsibility for the drain issues.”

The school is just under 100 metres downstream from a Wessex Water storm overflow which spilled into St Catherine’s Brook for two hours and 15 minutes straight just before midnight. It has spilled for a total of five hours and 15 minutes since 11am on Sunday November 24.

Storm overflows release sewer contents into rivers when there is not the capacity in the sewers. The map on the Wessex Water website warned that high groundwater and rainfall could be causing it to discharge.

Floods have caused chaos across Somerset and the West today. Chippenham and Bradford-upon-Avon have seen much of their town centres underwater. Railway travellers woke up this morning to Great Western Railway urging people not to travel after floods hit railway tracks, suspending services on all key routes.