PUPILS have moved back to their fire-damaged school.

John Ray Infant School, in Braintree, was destroyed in a blaze in August.

The 289 pupils have spent two months at the former Takeley Primary School while 18 temporary buildings, costing £1million, were built.

Gill Cunningham, deputy headteacher, said: “This is the next part of the children’s big adventure.

“They have been absolutely brilliant.

It’s really taught them how to be resilient and get on with things, and the main thing is we have all stayed together through this.”

Work on the new school is set to start next summer, ready to open for the September 2015 term.

Essex County Council has set aside £5.3million for the project, but does not know what the final cost will be.