But when youngsters from Bexton School coped with flooded classrooms, they were rewarded with a reel treat - an afternoon at the cinema.

"The children have been absolutely superb so this was a thank-you to them for behaving so well," said headteacher Sandra Heard.

The first of the 460 pupils arrived at Knutsford Civic Centre yesterday (Tuesday) for a special showing of Doug's First Movie to coincide with National Schools Film Week.

Three weeks ago teachers turned up for lessons to find the carpets under four inches of water.

"When I arrived at school I couldn't comprehend what they meant by a flood," said Mrs Heard.

But the problem - traced to the water tank - meant the children had to be sent home for the day.

Teachers and caretakers then began the massive clean-up operation.

By the afternoon they had swept the water away, but bean bags, stacks of paper and the carpets had all been ruined.

The infant school still wasn't ready for the pupils to return so they were forced to have lessons in various rooms around the school grounds.

"We had to eat our school dinners in the classrooms," said Mrs Heard.

But throughout the children behaved impeccably.

"I think they saw it as a bit of an adventure," said Mrs Heard.

Yesterday as the youngsters laughed in the aisles at Knutsford Studio Cinema, Mrs Heard was back at school - keeping an eye on the workmen.

"I like to be on site because otherwise I couldn't relax," she said.

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