Five boys held after blaze wrecks school

FIVE children were arrested after a fire destroyed a school that was due to reopen after the summer holidays.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Sep 2013, 01:01 BST

Leyland St Mary’s Catholic Technology College in Royal Avenue, Leyland, Lancashire, was devastated by the blaze, which broke out shortly after 4pm on Sunday.

Five boys aged between 11 and 15, all from Leyland, have been released on police bail after being held on suspicion of arson, Lancashire Police said.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said 125 firefighters and 20 engines were involved in tackling the blaze.

The school, which was built in 1957, had no sprinklers. About 10 fire engines remained at the scene in the early hours yesterday to extinguish the last pockets of flames and ensure the scene was safe.

Pupils were due to return for lessons after the holidays today.

Coun Matthew Tomlinson, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for children and schools, said the whole school community was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident.