CHILDREN were evacuated from an Atherton school after a gas leak was discovered.

The leak was found in a boiler in an outbuilding adjoining Parklee Junior School, Wardour Street, at 11.40am yesterday.

Firefighters from Leigh and Atherton and representatives from gas company Transco stopped the leak within 15 minutes.

A spokesman for the Leigh fire service said the headmistress decided to evacuate the youngsters.

The children had stood outside but, because of the bad weather, were taken to a nearby high school.

They were back in school at around lunch time.

The spokesman said: "We're not sure what caused the boiler to leak.

"Transco came out and took readings and they were getting a few high readings.

"We checked and made sure there was no danger of a gas explosion."