BBC NEWS North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South
BBCi CATEGORIES   TV   RADIO   COMMUNICATE   WHERE I LIVE   INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC News UK Edition
    You are in: England  
News Front Page
World
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
Education
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
BBC Weather
CBBC News
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS
 Monday, 23 December, 2002, 12:11 GMT
Arsonists attack school
Fire engine
The fire is the third at a school in the area since August
Arsonists have set fire to a Staffordshire school in the third such attack in the county in four months.

More than 20 firefighters were required to tackle the fire at Blessed William Howard Catholic High School in Stafford.

The fire, which destroyed four mobile classrooms, was started at about 0430 GMT on Monday.

It follows two other arson attacks at Chasetown High School and at Chase Terrace High School, both of which are in Burntwood.

£15m damage

A gym was burnt down at Chasetown High on 7 December and, in August, damage estimated at £15m was caused at Chase Terrace High.

Two crews from Stafford were the first on the scene of Monday's fire.

They called for immediate back up to tackle two fires that had been started at the school and were assisted by crews from Eccleshall and Gnosall.

Firefighters later launched a salvage operation to try to rescue as much equipment, and as many books, as possible.

Police have cordoned off the area and are treating the attack as a major incident.


Click here for more from BBC Stoke & Staffordshire
See also:

09 Dec 02 | England
09 Sep 02 | England
03 Sep 02 | Education
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more England stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

News Front Page | World | UK | England | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
Politics | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology |
Health | Education | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes