OVER 100 pupils at Heathfield Community School near Taunton have been off school with “flu-like” symptoms.

The school recorded 133 absences with flu like symptoms on Monday and 96 today.

Deputy head teacher John Fletcher, said: “Absences have escalated since Friday but with 1,138 pupils it’s nothing to worry about. “Some of them are swine flu – and most of them have flu-like symptoms.

“Luckily none of the staff have been taken ill so it’s not affecting the running of the school at all.

“It’s just a nuisance for the students who have been affected who have to stay off school for a few days.”

Taunton’s Castle School said they had more people off than usual, but not a “significant” amount/.

Head teacher Kevin Freedman said: “We have only got a small number more than normal off school at the moment, with a few suspected cases of swine flu.

“Our absence is up from what it is normally but not significantly.

“This is a difficult time of year anyway when a host of bugs are flying around.

“But we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and the running of the school has not been affected.”

Other schools across Taunton and Wellington say they have not had a similar amount of absences and have had very few reports of swine flu since the beginning of the new school term.