ARSONISTS are thought to be behind a large fire which ravaged part of a Poole school in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The blaze, at Parkstone Grammar School in Sopers Lane, was started in a large mound of rubbish in the middle of a new extension, which is under construction at the rear of the school next to the playing fields.

The 150m by 150m extension is currently an empty shell, but is due to become a sports hall. It had been on schedule for completion by this December.

The interior of the building was left blackened by the fire, and smoke damage can be seen at points on the exterior, but the building remains intact.

The rest of the site is thought to have escaped unscathed, and the alarms in the main school buildings didn’t sound.

Dorset Fire and Rescue were only alerted to the blaze thanks to paramedics, who happened to be attending an address in nearby Cavan Crescent at around 2.30am. They reported a lot of smoke in the air, but at that point the source was unknown.

A fire crew from Poole was sent out, and after a thorough search they discovered the large fire at the school. Two more appliances were dispatched and tackled the blaze – which was brought under control in an hour and a half. Firefighters remained on scene until around 5am damping down and checking the area.

Neighbours on Sopers Lane said they hadn’t been aware of the fire. The caretaker, who lives on site, was away when the fire started.