A SECONDARY school near Ludlow has relaxed rules designed to tackle rising Covid cases ­– but its headteacher admitted it is still a concern.

Wigmore High School, west of the town, said that cases in staff and pupils had been "thankfully" falling before last week's half-term.

Dr Rob Patterson said in a letter to parents that when children and staff returned to the school today (Monday), rules were going to be relaxed.

It meant face coverings would no longer be needed around the school in north Herefordshire, including in classrooms, and would only need to be worn on school buses.

Clubs and school fixtures were also given the go-ahead to return, and changing rooms for PE would reopen.

But despite rules being relaxed, Dr Patterson admitted Covid "continues to be a concern".

Ventilation in classrooms and hand washing at "key times" during the day would continue, he added, and there would be no "large gatherings", such as assemblies, until Covid cases had dropped further.

Dr Patterson also urged twice-weekly lateral flow testing continue at home to "help keep cases down" in the school, which has around 450 pupils.

The additional rules were brought in at the school at the beginning of October amid rising cases, predominately in years seven to 10.

But with cases falling, the additional measures could be removed.