BLACKWOOD'S flagship new primary school encountered a catalogue of problems just months after opening.

Now a full investigation in to the problems at Blackwood Primary, which opened in February and cost £1 million, is being called for amid claims it suffers leaks and problems with windows, doors and lights.

Local councillor Kevin Etheridge has tabled a number of questions for Phil Bevan, the council's cabinet member for education, to answer at a meeting of the full council on Thursday.

He wants a full investigation, claiming:

on October 8 the school hall was under water and a pump was needed to drain it away; l later that month trusses in the hall ceiling were full of water which subsequently leaked on to the school hall floor and had to be drained;

railings recently delivered to the school had to be taken away because they were not the correct size;

there appeared to be a design fault with the windows because they could not be opened.

Councillor Etheridge is asking for a list of problems the school is experiencing and the amount paid to the builders, to be given to members.

He is asking for assurance that leaks will not continue and for a list of measures that have been undertaken to ensure other problems will not happen again.

Councillor Etheridge said: "The new school at Blackwood is regarded as one of the flagships of the authority, and there have been numerous problems internally and externally with regard the building.

"I have asked for a full inquiry and investigation into this matter and have the full support of the governing body at the school who have also written to the director of education. I will be pursuing these matters with vigour and want detailed answers to my questions." Leon Gardiner, chairman of governors at the school, told the Argus: "The problems we have are in the hands of the local authority. They are the authority and they are dealing with the situation."

Mr Bevan and David Hopkins, director of education for Caerphilly, and Gaynor Peregrine, head teacher at the school were not available for comment. Yesterday many parents of pupils at Blackwood Primary said they were unaware of any problems.

But some said they would expect the school to inform them of any concerns about the new building.

One mum added: "It is very new, so I suppose it is possible they are having some teething problems."