Ref. 27647A VILLAGE primary school near Melksham is making expansion plans after an explosion of births in the last 12 months.

Teachers and governors at Atworth Primary School are preparing themselves for an influx of pupils after 20 babies were born in the last year.

Headteacher Delyth Wiltshire, 53, said there were no immediate plans for an extra classroom but extra space may be needed in 2007 when the babies reach primary school age.

"If these children do come in there is a possibility that we will need a fourth classroom," she said.

"But a lot can happen before then there is no guarantee they will all come to us."

The school can only take in 12 new pupils a year and staff are already experiencing space problems.

Mrs Wiltshire said: "It is all a bit of a squeeze. Our staff room is also used as a resource area, library and an IT suite. We have contacted local architects about building a new staff room."

Julia Kirwan, 42, who helps run Atworth Babies' and Toddlers' group and is the treasurer of the village pre-school, thinks the baby boom could be a village record.

"There used to be eight or nine babies at the babies' and toddlers' group, but last week I made coffee for 16 parents," she said.

"We are having a Christmas party next Wednesday and we were going to buy little gifts for all the children but because there are so many we can't afford it.

"We'll probably have a whisper around and ask parents to buy them and we'll just pretend."

Mrs Kirwan, whose

children Sean, nine, Dominic, seven, and four-year-old James attend the primary school, is also hoping the baby boom will boost numbers at the pre-school.

"Village school numbers are generally going down but in Atworth they are doing the opposite,"

she said.

"It is a problem, but it's a nice, healthy problem to have."

Alex Murphy, 37, whose four-month-old son William goes to the babies' and toddlers' group, said: "It's a pleasure to see the baby boom in Atworth, but I don't know why there's been such a sudden population explosion.

"The water company laid some new pipes in the village last year, so maybe it's got something to so with the water supply.

"It must be good news for the school. Not all village schools are thriving, but Atworth parents' productivity means ours looks viable for the foreseeable future."