Bristol teachers are to get new mobile classrooms to help them cope with the city’s soaring birth rate.

Six schools will get 22 new “modular” buildings over the next month because of the demand for primary places in the area.

The first of these new buildings will be installed at Barton Hill Primary School and Children’s Centre this weekend.

Bristol City Council bosses will have to create an extra 355 places for four and five-year-olds by September through a mix of new classrooms and improvements to existing buildings.

Clare Campion-Smith, member for children and young people at the council, said: “There is intense demand for reception places in certain parts of the city and I would like to thank schools that have risen to the challenge of finding room on their sites for extra children.

“We know demand is going to continue, which is why we are currently meeting headteachers to help inform a school organisation plan to address long-term needs for school places in the city.”

Simon Robinson, head of Barton Hill, said: “We are delighted to be able to support our local community by offering more places in our rapidly growing and improving school. Many of our parents are pleased and relieved that their children will be able to attend their local school.” KM.