A FIRE that destroyed an outdoor woodland classroom at a school causing £10,000 of damage and leaving pupils ‘devastated’ is being treated as suspicious by police.

Officers were sent to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Bridge after getting reports that children were trespassing and several had been seen clambering on the roof of the building.

Headteacher Michelle Ward said the children were having trouble understanding why such an integral part of the school could be 'mindlessly destroyed'.

The incident happened at around 3.15pm on Saturday.

A police spokesman said: “On arrival, officers found an outdoor woodland classroom on fire.

“The fire has destroyed the whole structure causing £10,000 worth of damage and leaving the pupils and staff very upset.

"The fire is being treated as suspicious."

Mrs Ward said: “Everybody connected with St Joseph’s is devastated that an area of our grounds so loved and extensively used has been needlessly destroyed.

“The children cannot understand how anybody could have come onto our grounds and treated our property with such disrespect

“The police are doing everything they can to catch the individuals responsible and we are hopeful that this will indeed happen.”

There was no damage reported at the central school buildings.

The outdoor classroom at the school was developed after they were successful in submitting a bid to the National Lottery for a forest school.

Work took place to develop the wooded area within the grounds of the school and create a natural space based around nature, adventure and learning.

Teachers completed forest school training and all of the children get the experience of outdoor learning in this area over the year in weekly outdoor classes.

The school’s website states: “They are given the opportunity to take part in fun activities that encourage them to appreciate their environment, each other’s strengths and themselves as learners.

“Through practical tasks, children are taught how to handle risks, work collaboratively, problem-solve and use their own initiative.

“Children are given space to explore their environment, and to develop their independence and imagination.”

No arrests have yet been made.

Those who have any information in relation are being asked to contact the neighbourhood policing team on 01772 315749.