As they endeavoured to settle down to school work following several disruptions last year, students and teachers at the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School in ST Thomas, US Virgin Islands, had their classes disrupted for the second straight day due to a chemical odour which affected the school.

Cancryn officials, speaking with Caribbean Net News via the telephone, revealed that the odours came from two commercial sources but quickly added that neither were a threat to staff and students.

According to one teacher, students lost valuable class time last Wednesday when the Virgin Islands Fire Department came to investigate the source of the "smell of gasoline".

However, classes were resumed a short time after it was discovered that the odour resulted from an inspection conducted at a gas station close to the school.

Students got another unscheduled holiday on Thursday when Fire Department and Environmental Protection Agency officials carried out a full inspection, explained Fire Chief Glenn Francis.

This time the odour came from a business on the southwest side of the campus where a man was carrying out repairs to his truck.

"Somebody was repairing their truck at the southwestern side of the school, we found that the wind was blowing in the direction of the school,” the Fire Chief said.

Fire and health officials told Caribbean Net News that the fumes did not present a health or any other hazard, and brushed aside talk of a propane leak.

"We gave them the all clear to return to the school after a full inspection," said Francis.

Education officials have been considering relocating the school which is in the heart of commercial development and nearby a busy highway.

By: Caribbeannews