Ross High School's dining hall is "safe to use", says East Lothian's head of education, despite the discovery that a potentially dangerous form of concrete was used in its construction.

In a letter to parents and carers this morning, Nicola McDowell confirmed that survey work had taken place in council buildings throughout the country to identify whether they were built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which can be at risk of collapse.

RAAC is a lightweight form of precast concrete, frequently used in public sector buildings in the UK from the mid-1960s to at least the mid-1980s.

The material, which is mostly used in roofs, has been identified already at the Brunton theatre in Musselburgh and Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans.

Schools throughout the UK have been closed due to the 'concrete crisis' with governments under pressure to help fund the repairs.

To ensure public safety, The Brunton, opened in 1973, has been closed since March while Preston Lodge has been forced to close 23 classrooms.

However, Mrs McDowell wanted to reassure parents and carers that the council was working hard to mitigate the issue and stressed that no other school buildings were affected.

She said in her letter: "I would like to provide you with re-assurance on the position in East Lothian and the comprehensive work, in the interests of everyone’s health and safety, which we have been doing in relation to this matter.

"East Lothian Council had already, following the publication of previous government advice in relation to RAAC, asked engineering specialists to undertake inspections, focused on establishing the extent and condition of RAAC within buildings.

"Inspection works confirmed the presence of RAAC in the construction of some, but not all, parts of Preston Lodge High School, Prestonpans.

"As a result of faults identified in a limited number of areas in which the RAAC is present, it was decided that some parts of the school building would be closed as a precautionary measure, with temporary arrangements in place to maintain learning and teaching such as using alternative accommodation within the school’s catchment area for some lessons.

"Discussions have been taking place around a possible solution and the council will issue full details to staff, parents and pupils as soon as it is able to do so.

"Survey work has also established that RAAC is present in the dining hall at Ross High School, Tranent.

"I would like to re-assure you that the dining hall remains safe to use, as the RAAC material has been assessed as being in a better condition than in affected buildings elsewhere.

"The condition of the RAAC which is present at Ross High will be closely monitored to establish whether any work might be required in future.

"Survey work has confirmed that RAAC is not present in any other East Lothian Council school."