LEE McGuire is facing up to the fact that he might never return to his primary school.

Lee, 11, is a final year pupil at Hardwick Primary School, in Sedgefield, County Durham.

He is one of 170 pupils affected by a blaze which gutted the school on Sunday.

Although Durham County Council last night promised it would have all pupils back in education next week, parents including Lee's mother, Julie McGuire, are having to alter their lives to adjust.

Mrs McGuire, a part-time radiographer, of Mitford Court, Sedgefield, said: "I've had to alter the working week. I do some bank work, as well, so I've had to back out of that this week. I've relied on neighbours and friends to help me out when I do have to work."

Before he goes to one of the short-listed emergency classrooms being considered by the council today, Lee's mother is making sure he does the homework he was given before the weekend fire.

Meanwhile, a four-member team of police scenes of crime investigators and fire service experts had to wait until structural work was carried out on the school yesterday morning before they could start their inquiries.

Arson has not been ruled out, and they will be joined by a specialist from the Forensic Science Laboratories today.

The fire, believed to have started at about 2.15am on Sunday, left parts of the building unsafe.

At one stage, six fire crews fought the flames.

Asbestos has been discovered in the building, making work to restore the school even more complicated.

The county council will provide transport to any alternative centres it adopts to continue the pupils' education.