MORE than half of students at a Tyne Valley school have been asked to self isolate.

Students in years 8-11 at Haydon Bridge High School will be taught remotely until Friday after a number of staff members were told to self isolate via the track and trace service.

Hexham Courant:

In a letter to parents, headteacher Darren Glover said: "Whilst the number of positive cases remains comparatively low within school, we are in a position where we have a number of staff members who are having to self-isolate because of being identified as close contacts through the Track and Trace app, reducing our staff to student ratio.

"At the forefront of our decision making has always been, and continues to be, the health and safety of the whole school, students, and staff. Therefore years 8 - 11 have been asked to self-isolate as a precaution in line with Public Health guidance.

"Continued education is extremely important for our students social, physical and mental health, and for this reason those who are self-isolating are continuing to access their lessons virtually."

It comes after cases of coronavirus in both the Haydon and Hadrian and Haltwhistle wards spiked over the past seven days.

The source of the increase in cases is currently unknown.