The earliest Selsdon High pupils will be able to return to the classroom following a Legionnaire's scare at a nearby sports hall is Monday.

Traces of the legionella bacteria were discovered at the Monks Hill Sports Centre which gets its water services from a boiler house at adjoining Selsdon High School.

The sports centre in Farnborough Avenue closed on April 5 and since then essential maintenance work to its - and the school's - heating and water system has taken place. However, the work was not completed during the Easter break.

Croydon Council said it had spared no expense in attempts to eradicate traces of a potentially dangerous bacteria from a school and sports centre. The temporary tank will be replaced by a steel water tank from Scotland.

The school and sports centre will open at the earliest on April 30 and arrangements are being made for pupils to be able to continue with crucial work ahead of their exams.

A spokesman for Croydon Council said arrangements had been made for certain pupils to continue with their exam preparation work while the school is closed.

They also stressed that the levels of the bacteria found were very low and should not be a risk to users of the sports centre.

Councillor Steve O'Connell said: "Everything that can be done, has been done, to eliminate any risk posed by the low levels of bacteria that were found. However, we take our responsibilities for public health very seriously and cannot advise that either the school or the sports centre opens until we are totally satisfied there is no risk."