IT'S back down to six possible sites for the replacement Inverkeithing High after an option in Rosyth was ruled out.

Councillors at the education and children's services committee on Tuesday decided that the land at Ballast Bank/Caldwell's Mill was not suitable for a new school.

Fife Council is committed to funding a replacement – the current school was partially closed on Tuesday due to a burst water pipe – after rating the current buildings as 'C' for both condition and suitability.

Co-leader David Ross had previously stated that the cost was expected to be "over £73 million".

After widening the search for potential locations, a report to the committee said that a list of 27 possible sites had been whittled down to seven.

However, at the meeting, councillors agreed that Ballast Bank/Caldwell's Mill should be omitted, leaving three options in Rosyth and three in Inverkeithing.

They are the Fleet Grounds, HMS Caledonia and a plot of land at West Rosyth, as well as land next to the current school and two sites north of the A921 road.

Rosyth Waterfront and Spencerfield, in Inverkeithing, had previously been looked at but both have now been ruled out.

The first stage in site assessment has been completed and feasibility studies on the six remaining sites are due to come to committee in August.

There will be a public consultation before a final decision is made.

Inverkeithing is one of five high schools that the council want to replace and, while £119m was set aside in February's budget to help pay for the building work, there's a requirement for "significant" funding from Holyrood to carry out their plans.

A committee report said that "discussions are ongoing with the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust regarding potential opportunities for additional investment".

Inverkeithing High was closed to all pupils, except those sitting exams, on Tuesday after a burst water pipe was discovered during routine repairs to a fire hydrant. It re-opened to all children yesterday. The council said the incident was unrelated to the water supply problem the school experienced in February, when it was forced to close for three days.