Parents have praised teachers at a school hit by an E coli outbreak after it finally re-opened - but the extent of the damage caused by the bug remains unknown.

Staff at Feltham Hill Infant and Nursery School have spent much of the past three weeks piling books, toys, plants and equipment into rubbish sacks in a bid to wipe any trace of E coli from the site.

At present, 11 people from the Bedfont Road school have been confirmed with the bug - along with one pupil from nearby Feltham Hill Junior School.

Following a briefing to parents on Tuesday - the day after the school re-opened - interim headteacher Maggie Newbury said she was in the dark about which of the 11 were pupils and which were staff.

She also said that the cost of replacing the scrapped equipment had not yet been calculated.

A spokeswoman for Hounslow Council said officers were in the process of working out the total amount spent.

Parents were quick to commend the hard work and determination of Ms Newbury and her team following the February 3 closure.

Mum Lisa Brum said: “The work they have done is absolutely unbelievable.

“They have all worked so hard and they have done so well - we are just so proud.”

Ms Brum added that she “hoped and prayed” the bug did not return but said everyone was focused on moving forward, as the children’s reading levels needed to be reassessed after all school records were destroyed.

During Tuesday’s briefing - the second in as many days - Ms Newbury showed parents pictures of the clean-up operation.

She explained that staff had “gone above and beyond their role as teachers” by helping collect children's samples to be sent to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) for testing.

Environmental health officers completed a “deep clean” of the site to eliminate traces of infection and only children who have had the all-clear from the HPA are being allowed back into class.

Ms Newbury told parents: “I can stand with my hand on my heart and say your children are safe.”

Afterwards, chairman of governors, Donald Ross, said: “We will be reviewing [emergency response] measures and procedures just in case anything needs updating.”

Ms Newbury added: “It was great to have the children back in school and our thoughts remain with the children who are unable to return to school, although we do not actually know who they are.”