POLICE are hunting arsonists who sparked a huge blaze at Merton Bank Primary School which caused £90,000 worth of damage.

Roofs of the boys' toilet, the library and the infant building were destroyed by the fire which ripped through the building shortly after 9pm, on Tuesday, January 4.

Fire investigators recovered a bottle of white spirit from the roof space and detectives have confirmed the blaze is being treated as arson.

It is thought the culprits climbed on to the roof from a skip that was nearby the school building.

Children returned to the 300-pupil school on Roper Street, Merton Bank, after the Christmas break last Wednesday to discover the damage.

Infant and nursery pupils had to be sent home before returning on Thursday, though junior pupils went ahead with lessons.

More than 30 firefighters tackled the blaze and needed more than two hours to bring it under control. Several firefighters also moved swiftly to save school equipment and books from being damaged.

Headteacher John Flanagan (pictured far left) thanked fire crews for the swift actions. He said: "Had it not been for the actions of the fire service the damage could have been a more severe. We were also helped that the building is old, it was built in 1905. If it had been one of these 1960s constructions there could have been no building left.

"We put contingency plans in place but have done the most important thing which is to minimise the disruption to the children."

Mr Flanagan added it could be Easter until damaged sections are fully operational.