Pupils have lucky escape

Fire crews, police and ambulance services arrived on the scene in Westfield next to St Maurice’s High School at lunch time today after the alarm was raised.

A police spokesperson said: “There were two youths who got into some difficulty on the ice but we understand that they are safe now, if not a little cold.”

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council confirmed that two first year boys had fallen through the ice but that they were understood to be OK.

“Two first year pupils were involved in an incident at a pond adjacent to St Maurice’s High School.

“While they are not believed to have suffered injury, they have, as a precautionary measure, been taken to hospital.

“Parents have been informed.”

The spokesperson added: “There are signs around the pond warning people to keep off the ice and the head teacher of St Maurice’s regularly issues warnings against going near the water, all year round.”