Arson probe launched after school is hit by blaze

Mar 24 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

AN investigation has been launched into a blaze which destroyed part of a Tyneside school. The sixth form block at Whickham School and Sports College was destroyed in the suspected arson attack on Friday evening.

Scenes of crime officers visited the scene on Saturday along with headteacher Neil Morrison to assess the damage.

Firefighters managed to prevent flames spreading to a nearby music room and computer lab in the single-storey building in Burnthouse Lane. Pupils from the school
posted footage of flames ripping through the building on video-sharing website YouTube after the blaze at 9.30pm.

Police said last night a fire investigation would begin on Tuesday to establish the cause and tests on samples taken from the school, which has 1,700 pupils, would then be sent for analysis.

Police are also investigating a fire at a derelict school in Northumberland.

Fire crews were called to the former Ponteland First School, in North Road, at about 5.40pm on Friday.

The blaze started in the main hall of the premises.

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said last night that an arson task force team was examining the site to establish the cause of the fire.