A school in Stevenage has explained its response to a suspected carbon monoxide leak, after parents expressed anger at children initially not being allowed to leave the site.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to Martins Wood Primary School in Mildmay Road just after 1pm, following reports of a number of children and adults becoming unwell.

One adult and two children have been taken to Lister Hospital by ambulance with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, while a further six adults and nine children were assessed at the scene.

Parents expressed their anger at the school initially keeping children inside the site, but executive headteacher Zoe Phillips explained that this was done following advice from emergency services.

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"We were instructed by the emergency services that no one should leave or enter the site, which is why you were not able to immediately collect your children," she said.

"I know that this caused a great deal of anxiety and I’d like to thank you again for your understanding during this difficult time.

"We released the children as soon as we were safely able to do so."

Ms Phillips was also keen to thank staff for their response, adding: "I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our staff who did an incredible job this afternoon, and to the emergency services who managed the incident extremely well."