A PRIMARY school near Ludlow has been forced to introduce a raft of new measures as Covid cases continue to rise among students.

Wigmore Primary School, north of Leominster near Ludlow, said the reception and year one class had been kept separate from the rest of school.

Executive headteacher Rob Patterson said on January 12 the class, called Oak Class, would also have different drop off and pickup times to "minimise any chance that infection will spread between years groups".

He also encouraged parents to carry out lateral flow tests on their children, if it wasn't distressing.

But less than a week later on Monday (January 17), he said more measures were needed at the school, in Ford Street.

In a letter to parents, Mr Patterson cases continued to rise over the weekend.

"We have therefore reviewed our additional safety measures and as a result have put a number of further measures in place to help mitigate the spread," he said.

He said for 10 days from Tuesday, all pupils should arrive at school at their normal time and go straight into their classroom. There should be no congregating of children on the playground, he said.

He also asked that only one parents goes to collect their child, or children, and to leave "as soon as possible" afterwards.

He added: "Visitors to the school are discouraged at this time. Any necessary visitors should arrive at reception wearing a face covering (unless exempt).

"School clubs and trips are suspended. This includes swimming lessons."

With a number of coronavirus cases last year at the high school, where Mr Patterson is also executive headteacher, he said disruption would continue for "the next couple of weeks", before things return to normal.

"We have also found that most children are only mildly affected by Covid-19 and make a speedy and full recovery," he said.

"We will be keeping our fingers crossed that this is the case again."