STAFF at St Francis School had a frantic battle on their hands after a workman cut through a main's water pipe in a ceiling flooding two classrooms below in a cascade of water.

An emergency plan swung into action at the Falmouth school in Longfield on Monday evening after staff found torrents of water pouring from the ceiling.

Firefighters were called to the school at five past four where they found a contractor had pierced the pipe while carrying out work in the ceiling.

The Falmouth crew was at the scene for over an hour after isolating the water supply, helping to clear up the mess along with council contractors.

The school had to close all day on Tuesday while staff cleaned up the damage caused by water pouring onto books, computers and the work of the children in year six.

Head teacher Claire Fortey said luckily the accident had happened after the children had left for the day otherwise it could have been much worse, but the staff were present at the time having a meeting.

"It caused quite a bit of damage with the water pouring through the ceiling," she said. "It was cascading down onto the floor and there was about two or three inches of water on the floor.

"It started as a stream and then it all poured down everywhere. It came through the light fittings but then the fire brigade arrived and they were fantastic."

Mrs Fortey praised her staff for the actions and said that their emergency policy, which they had only discussed the week before, had worked perfectly.

The actual cost of the flood is expected to run into thousands of pounds with the school having to replace the carpets, the ceilings, books and computers which were in the classrooms at the time.

Staff worked overtime on Monday night contacting the parents to let them know that the school was closed for the day and notices were posted at the school entrance.

The children in year six, ages ten and 11, under teachers Chris Gould and Liz Coles have had to be accommodated in the IT suite and one of the younger children's classrooms until the damage has been repaired.