Children at a Norfolk primary school have been using portable toilets after blocked soakaways led to drainage problems.

Mattishall Primary School, near Dereham, closed last Friday to assess the situation and undergo work to install the temporary toilets so engineers could begin unblocking the soakaways. 

Although those children in reception were not affected due to having separate toilets in their classrooms, those in year one and upwards have since been using the installed facilities.

Children having to use the portable toilets comes amid a week of heavy rain across the county, which has also impacted the decision to keep the toilets in place.

The school hopes that use of the toilets will resume as normal on Monday, October 7.

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A spokesperson for Synergy Multi Academy Trust said: "After identifying drainage issues relating to the soakaways at the school last week, we closed on Friday, September 27 in order to inspect the grounds and install temporary portable toilets.

"They will remain in place throughout this week due to the current heavy level of rainfall while engineers continue drainage mapping to help unblock the site's soakaways.

"This should be completed by the end of the week, and normal use of the school's toilets should resume on Monday 7 October.

"Portable toilets have been installed as a short-term solution to avoid further school closures and disruption to the children's education.

"We would like to thank the children, staff, parents and carers for their patience during this week."