More than 100 schools, nurseries and colleges have been told by the government to close classrooms and buildings just days before the start of the new academic year.

The Department for Education has contacted 104 education settings nationwide ordering them not to open buildings containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

The instruction has been given amid collapse fears over the controversial material - from which the Queen Elizabeth Hosptial in King's Lynn is also made.

But Norfolk County Council has said that none of the schools it is responsible for have been affected by the government orders.

A spokeswoman said: "An inspection was carried out in 2022 which confirmed that no schools for which we are the responsible body have been identified as having RAAC.

"Academies with a standard 125-year lease were responsible for their own inspections but none have raised issues with us."

They added that County Hall had not been contacted by any academy trusts to say any schools would be unable to open next week.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: "Nothing is more important than making sure children are safe in schools and college, which is why we are acting on new evidence about RAAC now, ahead of the start of the term.

"The plan we have set out will minimise the impact on pupil learning and provide schools with the right funding and support they need to put mitigations in place to deal with RAAC."

Four years ago, Norfolk County Council identified 58 which were built between 1955 and 1980 which may have contained the planks.

It is not believed any of these have been affected by the government's directive.

 Meanwhile, school leaders have criticised the timing of the announcement, just days before children are set to return to the classroom.

Julie McCulloch, of the Association of School and College Leaders said: "It has taken the government far too long to act on a risk of this seriousness."