THERE is widespread outrage at Pewsey Vale School - which is allowing pupils back to school having just returned from a trip to Italy.

It has been condemned as being “highly irresponsible” for going ahead with a ski trip to northern Italy despite the area being a ‘hotspot’ for the Coronavirus.

A party of children left last Saturday for a week-long trip to the Claviere ski resort in the Piedmont region.

They returned at the weekend, and while the Foreign and Commonwealth Office stresses that all British nationals, including those in the quarantined area, can return to the UK, the advice says those who have been in the lockdown area should self-isolate on arrival back in the UK.

But the school is not taking this advice.

Some parents with children at the Wilcot Road academy say the trip should have been cancelled.

In a message on a Pewsey Vale social media page, one worried parent said: “Highly irresponsible of them, I’d say.”

Other parents say they would not have allowed their children to go on the trip.

"This is typical selfish attitude of this school and it's board and governors along with the teachers to destroy the businesses and community life within Pewsey Village," said one.

"So stupid!" said another.

"I expect the parents had to pay a fair bit for the trip but I'd rather lose the money than the risk of going. The parents that have let there kids go must be so proud of themselves for not caring about the risks!!I for sure wouldn't let mine go."

A Pewsey Vale spokeswoman said the school had followed Public Health England guidelines “to the letter”.

She said: “It is very clear. We have followed all the procedures and risk assessments and have followed all the guidelines.”

Italy now has the highest number of confirmed infections outside of China, where the outbreak originated in December.

The UK Foreign Office is advising against "all but essential travel" to large parts of northern Italy after they were put in lockdown.

The strict new quarantine measures affect a quarter of the Italian population and centre on the rich northern part of the country that powers its economy.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also announced the closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the whole country.

The measures will last until 3 April.