AROUND 200 pupils at Dilton Marsh CofE Primary School near Westbury have been sent home to self-isolate after its headteacher tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Headteacher Jill Hibbs sent letters and emails to parents and carers on Tuesday (September 22) telling them the school would be closed until Monday, October 5.

She told them: "We appreciate the concern and inconvenience that this decision will cause you at this time."

In her letter, Mrs Hibbs said she believed she had caught the virus from a "close family member" and not from Executive Head Stuart Porter, who contracted the virus in mid-August.

However, last Friday she had visited every class to hand out reward stickers.

She added: "Unfortunately, this action has meant that these children will now have to self-isolate and although this poses a low level of risk to your child, Acorn Education Trust has made the decision to close the school to all children to minimise the spread of the virus."

Staff are now working with the Department of Education and Public Health England to ensure they keep the school community as safe as possible.