Pupils at a village primary school gutted by fire are returning to lessons in an 18th-century mansion.

Older buildings at Marsh Baldon Primary School were destroyed in the fire on February 24 and it will take at least a year to rebuild the school.

The Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organisation, invited the school to use its World Retreat Centre in Nuneham Park for two weeks until temporary buildings are installed on the school field. Year Five and Six pupils arrived for lessons last Thursday and the rest of the school were due to arrive today.

Fire safety officers have ruled out arson and said the cause was related to a £180,000 building programme which was due to finish the day after the blaze.

Meanwhile, a village drama group is putting the finishing touches to a production which will raise money for the primary school.

The Baldon Players hope to raise £1,000 from perform- ances of The Boyfriend at Nuneham Courtenay Village Hall from Wednesday until Saturday.

Director Martin Stockman, who has two children at the school, said: "We normally send all our profits to charity but, right now, we thought we should give it to the school and they can do what they want with it."

Tickets are available from the post office in Nuneham Courtenay.