CHILDREN were evacuated from a Renton primary and nursery following a gas leak.

Youngsters from St Martin’s Primary School and Riverside Early Education Centre were removed from the premises after staff noticed a smell of gas on the Place of Bonhill site around 11am on Wednesday morning.

Scottish Gas Network quickly identified a gas leak from one of the school’s boilers which was then isolated and made safe.

Staff and children returned to the building despite initial concerns the school may have to close early.

West Dunbartonshire Council took to social media to say: “Scottish Gas Network identified a gas leak at one of the boilers and has made the boiler safe. Both buildings are now safe and staff and children are returning to both the school and the nursery.”

The leak comes just days after Dumbarton Academy and Bellsmyre Campus – which included Aitkenbar Primary, St Peter’s Primary and Bellsmyre Early Learning and Childcare Centre – were both forced to close for short period of time after staff reported smelling gas within the schools.

The incidents have raised concerns with residents across Dumbarton and the Vale however, fears were quashed by the council who reported a local landfill site was the source of the smell.

A spokesman for WDC confirmed the issue “potentially” arose from nearby Auchencarroch landfill and insisted environment protection agency SEPA were liaising with the site’s operations to ensure “appropriate odour management plans” were in place.

All four schools and both nurseries have since reopened and no further issues have been reported.