PLUMBING problems which put toilets out of action as students were due to return to school in Leominster after half term were a "warning signal" over the poor condition of many county high schools, said a deputy head teacher.

"It highlights the need to modernise our buildings across the board," said Richard Davies, of the Minster College.

Mr Davies said he greatly regretted that the Government had decided not to give £150 million for Herefordshire schools for a major renewal programme.

More than 700 Minster students gained an extra day to the mid-term holiday after the failure of the water supply to toilets.

The college used its 'snow alert' procedure of a cascade of phone calls and an announcement on local radio to tells students to stay at home on Monday.

"We are lucky there was not a major problem on this occasion and the fault was fixed fairly speedily," said Mr Davies.

"But last year we had problems with the heating system and other problems seem likely to arise because of the age and condition of the building - parts of the site date back to the 1930s.

"The site is not really conducive to the education of students and the work of teachers. It's a great shame that Herefordshire LEA's bid to the Government was turned down."