FAULTY boilers that forced the closure of a primary school before Christmas failed to take the steam out of its festive plans.

The Key Stage One and reception Nativities could not go ahead as scheduled when Oxenhope Primary School shut for four days in the final week of term. Undaunted, the children put on their shows when they returned after the Christmas break to appreciative parents.

The school hall was packed as Key Stage One pupils presented Children of the World, in which they gave festive greetings in several languages and gifts representing different cultures.

Reception youngsters staged an outdoor Nativity in the school’s nature area. They walked looking for the baby Jesus, recounting the Nativity story and singing songs en route. Deputy head, John Parkin, said: “We were disappointed when we couldn’t do the Nativities as planned before Christmas but the view of parents, children and staff was that we could still go ahead with them after the holiday.

“They’re not easy to slot in at the start of a new term, but We were thrilled the Nativities did go ahead and they provided a fitting conclusion to the festive period.”