STUDENTS started back at a leading North Yorkshire school today after floods caused damage which will cost at least £25,000 to put right.

Easingwold Secondary School remained closed for a week after flash floods swamped classrooms last Thursday, causing thousands of pounds of damage to computer equipment.

The school's 1,355 pupils have now finally been told they can return after a massive clean-up operation.

Assistant head teacher John Butcher said a total cost had yet to be put on the damage, but carpets in classrooms and corridors had to be ripped up and disinfected before the school could reopen.

About 30 computers and printers in the school's IT suit were ruined by the damp, and will have to be replaced.

The computer room, library and at least one classroom will not reopen today, but the majority of classrooms can now be used.

Maintenance and teaching staff worked flat out to make sure the school reopened as quickly as possible.

The flooding occurred after a heavy downpour at 5.30pm last Thursday caused water to run off a tennis court at the back of the school and into the building leaving classrooms and staffrooms under several inches of water.

Drains were put in on the tennis court after the last flood in 2000, but Mr Butcher said on this occasion the large amount of rain in such a short time meant they were overwhelmed.

The closure has forced staff to postpone the school sports day which will now be held on Monday, July 18, but a joint concert featuring the school choir and a visiting choir from Kiev will go ahead as planned tonight, at 7.30pm.

Mr Butcher said: "Our Year 10 youngsters are due to start two weeks of work experience next week and we were especially keen to speak to them before that happened, so we are pleased we can reopen today.

"Obviously every effort will be made to catch up on whatever work has been missed wherever possible."

Messages have been sent to parents and posters have been put up in local towns and villages warning people of the school closure.

In last year's GCSE and GNVQ exams the school ranked 18th out of 48 schools in North Yorkshire in the league tables.

It was 22nd out of 35 schools for A and AS level.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: "We are carrying out a full investigation into the flooding and producing a report in due course on what measures need to be taken to ensure that there isn't a repeat of this situation."

Updated: 10:42 Friday, July 08, 2005