Seventh Greater Manchester school affected by concrete crisis as MP slams 'disgraceful' government

A seventh Greater Manchester school has been confirmed as having the dangerous crumbling concrete which has sparked a crisis in education.

We reported earlier how hundreds of schools across the country could be affected by the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which is seeing some buildings close completely and others partially closed.

Work has already begun on several local schools affected by the dangerous crumbly concrete as 'mitigating measures' are put in place.

Construction has begun today on Altrincham College and Sale Grammar - two of the six schools in the region confirmed to have RAAC.

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Now it's been confirmed that a seventh school, St Andrew's CE Primary, in Over Hulton, Bolton, is affected. With pupils due to return on Wednesday, it's not yet clear what the impact will be.

Meanwhile an eighth school, St Gregory's RC Primary School, in Farnworth, also Bolton, has been identified as possibly at risk from RAAC, but it is yet to be confirmed.

The trust that runs the school, St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust, says it is working closely with the Department for Education and will take any steps deemed necessary.

It comes as an MP from the town has blasted the government for 'sitting on the problem' and dropping schools in it at the last minute.

Yasmin Qureshi, who represents Bolton South East, was one of many MPs to receive a list of schools affected in their constituencies on Friday, just days before pupils were due to return from the summer holidays.

"It's disgraceful that they have known about the problem for such a long time and have deliberately chosen to sit on it and not do anything about it until almost the last