PRIMARY school pupils are set to return to their old school two years after it burnt to the ground.

John Ray Junior School, in Notley Road, Braintree, suffered the devastating blaze just days before the end of the summer holidays in 2013.

After a full rebuild, pupils will start the autumn term on Tuesday.

The scheme was part of a £48million investment in schools by Essex County Council to create 3,000 new primary places and 150 secondary places for the 2015/16 academic year.

It included the expansion of other schools in Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Silver End and Witham.

Ray Gooding, councillor responsible for education, said: “Essex is growing rapidly and the demand for school places in the county is also continuing to rise.

“To meet that demand, we are planning to spend about £200 million over the next five years on creating extra school places.

“I am delighted to see so many exciting projects coming to a conclusion this summer and look forward to the new pupils starting in September.”