A HAMPSHIRE school is thought to be one of the first in the country to install a thermal camera to detect any coronavirus among staff and students.

The new camera at Pennington Junior School can identify anyone suffering from a high temperature - one of the main symptoms of Covid-19.

It has been installed following a £5,000 donation from companies in the area JB Services Group and Dimension Build.

A statement on the school's Facebook page says: "A huge 'thank you' to two local companies who have donated and installed a thermal camera in the school foyer.

"It has been an amazing asset to the day-to-day running of the school.

"It means all visitors and adults coming into the school will be temperature checked before entering the school and having contact with our children.

"Thank you Dimension Build and JB Services Group for helping to make our school a safer place."

A Dimension Build spokesman said the camera could single out an unusual heat source among a large group of people, which meant up to 30 pupils, parents and teachers could enter the school at once.