THE safety of several pupils at a village school has been compromised as they escape from the campus "whenever they have the opportunity", according to a report.

Despite teachers' best efforts at Churchstanton Primary School, the report suggests a number of vulnerable children still manage to flee the classroom, jump over the low boundary walls and could head across roads to open farmland and dense woodland, exposing themselves to danger.

But a source close to the school told the County Gazette that there have not been any children escaping from the school.

The report from Somerset County Council says: "Churchstanton Primary School have recently been experiencing a number of issues with several vulnerable children finding it necessary to abscond from the school premises whenever they they have the opportunity.

"Whilst the school is working hard to keep the children in the classroom and under full supervision at all times, once they have managed to escape from the classroom, the low boundary walls and gates pose no barrier.

"There are a number of roads nearby and a lot of both open farmland and dense woodland, which pose real threats to the safety of the children once they leave the premises."

A planning application to create a secure environment by enclosing the whole school, which dates from Victorian times and has listed building status, with fencing up to 1.8 metres high and several pedestrian gates has been submitted to Taunton Deane Borough Council.

The school also wants to create a fenced multi use games area by raising one side of the playground by just over a metre.

The playground, which is due to be resurfaced, has a "very pronounced slope", says the report.

It adds: "This means that ball games are very difficult and can at times, during wet or icy conditions, become very treacherous."