PUPILS across East Lancashire faced disruption when they returned to school today because new teachers were not being allowed into classrooms.

The teachers were unable to start work because the Criminal Records Bureau has not cleared a deluge of vetting requests from around the country.

A headteachers' spokesman described the delays as "immensely disruptive."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said 234 teaching and support staff were still awaiting clearance, compared with 450 last Thursday.

In Blackburn with Darwen 40 new teachers and 130 non-teaching staff like special support assistants could not start work.

But neither education authority had been notified of any schools which were intending to close. Instead, heads are hoping to cover classes with existing staff.

Schools in Burnley returned last week but a county council spokesman said the education authority had received no reports of schools struggling to cope.

Meanwhile, officials in charge of vetting teachers today finally admitted defeat in their race to clear the backlog of background checks.

About 7,000 new staff have still to be cleared nationwide. These applications either contained errors or omissions and the CRB was having to request additional information before processing could take place, a spokesman said.

The CRB was set up in March as a one-stop shop to provide checks that would stop paedophiles from gaining access to children.

Staff have to receive double clearance before they can work with or near children.

The backlog grew following the disappearance a month ago of Cambridgeshire 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The man accused of their murder, Ian Huntley, was a caretaker at their school.