PUPILS at an east Durham comprehensive school were given an unexpected day off lessons following the discovery of a faulty gas pipe.

The students at Easington School were told to stay at home while work to replace a damaged pipe was carried out.

The fault was found in a gas main which lay between the school's boiler house and the kitchen, and in the interests of safety, it was decided to replace the entire length of pipe.

The school will be operating as usual today.