A Hitchin primary school’s bid for a badly-needed makeover has won the support of the town’s MP.

Peter Lilley, who represents Hitchin & Harpenden at Westminister, announced his support for the campaign after a tour of inspection of William Ransom Primary School.

The Stuart Drive school has ‘temporary’ classrooms which have been in use for 30 years, and also needs a new roof for its IT room and replacement windows in the hall.

Mr Lilley said: “The school is being put under increasing pressure to take more and more pupils each September, but without any support to improve the infrastructure necessary to deal with that number of children.

“I know Herts County Council has a schools expansion programme, but funding for immediately necessary upgrade work should not be delayed.”

Headteacher Mary Driver said: “Our mobile classrooms are over 30 years old – they were only originally granted planning permission for five years.

“Our bid for funding for their replacement with a permanent structure was unsuccessful and County Hall will not provide any timescale of when we may receive the necessary funding.

“These mobiles are no longer fit for purpose, a fact confirmed by an independent surveyor.”

Mr Lilley said: “Pupils should not be left indefinitely with buckets placed on desks to catch the rain dripping from the roof.” He has promised to take up the issue with County Hall and with secretary of state for education Nicky Morgan.