Work is underway now to install temporary classrooms for children whose school was destroyed in a devastating fire over the summer.

The new high quality classrooms will open next in just days.

On August 17 this year, teachers and pupils at SS Simon and Jude CE Primary School in Great Lever watched on as the school building on Newport Road burnt down

The fire, which Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) destroyed the building, with a rebuild estimated to take three years

Plans for high-quality temporary classrooms to be installed on Walker's Field, just behind the site of the former school, were drafted in the aftermath of the fire. 

The Bolton News: The new temporary 'village' on Walker's FieldThe new temporary 'village' on Walker's Field (Image: Newsquest)

Now, children, parents and staff have been given a date for school to start at the temporary site, December 12. 

Multiple huts can be seen at the site, with building work still ongoing. 

Cllr Nadeem Ayub, who is a Governor at the school, said: "We are absolutely delighted the school, is going to be back up in its normal form, albeit in a temporary location. 

The Bolton News: The fireThe fire (Image: Newsquest)

"The children can now get back to some form of normality. I would also like to thank the places which served as temporary accommodation for putting up with the children while the school was being built. 

"It will be handed over on Friday, December 8 to the school, it will shut on Monday 11 for a training day and then the schoolchildren will be coming to the school on  the following Tuesday." 

Starting in the roof of the school and initially staying relatively small, by midday the fire had ripped through the entire roof of one of the buildings. 

The Bolton News: The remains of the fire-damaged part of the school in AugustThe remains of the fire-damaged part of the school in August (Image: SS Simon and Jude CE Primary School)

Around 85 firefighters were enlisted to tackle the blaze, with over 100 fire service staff altogether on scene. 

Fire personnel were still on scene the following day to keep the fire damped down, over 24 hours after it was first called in. 

A GMFRS spokesperson said: "Investigations are continuing to determine the cause of the fire."

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at zach.harrison@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter/X @zachhjourno.