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| Wem's Thomas Adams School criticised for blowing up chemicals | Wem's Thomas Adams School criticised for blowing up chemicals |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A school that blew up old chemicals on its playing field has been criticised for not providing a public warning of the blast. | A school that blew up old chemicals on its playing field has been criticised for not providing a public warning of the blast. |
| Residents in Wem, Shropshire, were alarmed when The Thomas Adams School carried out the explosion on Monday while children were trick or treating. | Residents in Wem, Shropshire, were alarmed when The Thomas Adams School carried out the explosion on Monday while children were trick or treating. |
| The 19:30 GMT blast was supervised by police and bomb disposal experts. | The 19:30 GMT blast was supervised by police and bomb disposal experts. |
| Head teacher Liz Dakin apologised for "distress" caused, but said the school had followed police advice. | Head teacher Liz Dakin apologised for "distress" caused, but said the school had followed police advice. |
| For more stories from Shropshire | For more stories from Shropshire |
| Residents complained on the Lowe Hill school's Facebook page about the lack of advance warning. | Residents complained on the Lowe Hill school's Facebook page about the lack of advance warning. |
| One said the noise was "immense" and "worrying", especially when families were out celebrating Halloween. | One said the noise was "immense" and "worrying", especially when families were out celebrating Halloween. |
| Mrs Dakin said the school was acting in response to advice from Government advisory science service CLEAPSS to check for the chemical 2,4-DNPH - sometimes used in chemistry lessons. | |
| What is 2,4-DNPH? | |
| If not stored properly the substance can cause serious harm. | If not stored properly the substance can cause serious harm. |
| Police were in attendance for its disposal, but Mrs Dakin said: "We also were not aware of how big the bang would actually be. | Police were in attendance for its disposal, but Mrs Dakin said: "We also were not aware of how big the bang would actually be. |
| "We do apologise to the public for any distress caused but, of course, we were following police instructions." | "We do apologise to the public for any distress caused but, of course, we were following police instructions." |
| She added police had told her their time is being taken up by doing the same thing at schools across the country. | She added police had told her their time is being taken up by doing the same thing at schools across the country. |
| The school was open as usual on Tuesday. | The school was open as usual on Tuesday. |
| West Mercia Police said officers assisted an explosive ordinance disposal unit who conducted a controlled explosion on some chemicals. | |
| Safer Neighbourhood Inspector Nigel Morgan said: "The chemicals were safely dealt with by the EOD unit on the school playing field at around 8pm last night and although local residents may have experienced a loud band, all relevant steps were taken to ensure that the local community were kept safe from harm". |