THE final bell has rung at a 170-year-old school as children and teachers prepare to pack up and leave.

Over 300 pupils are moving from Westbury Leigh Primary School, which opened in 1833, to a brand new 14-classroom school in Leigh Park.

The Victorian building had become too small and children were taught in nine mobile classrooms in the playground.

This week teachers and children have finally said goodbye to the school site, which will now be used for homes.

Year 2 teacher Jonathan Pike has taught at the primary school since 1984.

He said: "I am looking forward to moving because we have completely outgrown the school and the children deserve more.

"Although the building holds happy memories it is the children and not the premises that really make a school."

The new school in Leigh Park was built by developer Persimmon Homes, which has built two similar schools in Wiltshire. As part of the deal Persimmon is planning to build 15 homes on the former school's land.

Diane Bouault, a teacher at the school for 15 years, said: "Moving is the only option but I might miss the little things.

"We're in a very quiet area we have a stream and woods but the number of children means we have to move."

Originally school bosses hoped to extend the building, but it proved too costly and disruptive.

The number of children in Westbury has increased dramatically in recent years and primary school numbers have grown from 150 children in 2000 to 302 today.

Headteacher Mary Murray said: "I won't miss walking outside in the rain from class to class, but this old school has characteristics we will miss."

Bob Wolfson, director of children, education and libraries at Wiltshire County Council, said: "We needed to provide more places for children in this part of Westbury.

"I am delighted they will now be educated in a brand new school, with all the facilities that offers, rather than trying to significantly enlarge an older building.

"It has been an added bonus that the new building could be built without disruption to the pupils' education."

Students and teachers will start at the new school on January 12.