The summer holidays weren't due to start for another three days for pupils at the Robert Burns Academy but health chiefs have shut the school early because of a COVID outbreak.

A letter was sent out to parents yesterday afternoon saying that contact tracing was underway at the school following multiple cases of coronavirus.

The letter states: "Following careful consideration of all available information and in conjunction with East Ayrshire Council, we have agreed a closure of the school until Friday, June 25. This will mean that the school will not now re-open until August 19 due to the summer break."

Lochnorris Primary School, Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre and Hillside School, who share the the Barony Campus with the RBA, are not affected and will remain open.

In another new development, health chiefs have said that siblings of students at the Robert Burns Academy who are identified as close contacts must now also self-isolate.

It come as COVID cases in East Ayrshire have surged to put us in the top three in terms of local authority areas worst affected. Only Edinburgh and Dundee currently have worse rates.

Read more: COVID case surge sees East Ayrshire in top three worst affected areas