FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze at a school after arsonists attacked the build-ing.

Crews were called to fight a fire at All Saints Primary School, in Church Street, after two wheelie bins were set alight yest-erday at 12.50am.

Blazes were set at two opposite ends of the school, with one spreading to the roof and causing sev-ere damage to a school classroom.

Fire and heat is said to have badly damaged the room, while the remainder of the school was smoke damaged.

Firefighters said that neighbours who raised the alarm early prevented the fire from engulfing the school building.

Crews tackled the blaze using a triple ladder extension, and also set up a lighting unit at the school while they worked.

The incident is now being investigated, along with skip fires at the nearby Petre Road industrial estate, which crews were called out to at 1am.

That blaze saw a large three by 15 metre bin com-pound, and four commer-cial skips, destroyed by fire.

Accrington watch manager Steve Barnes praised watchful neighbours who prevented more damage at All Saints School.

He said: “There were two bins set on fire, one at either end of the building, so it could very easily have seen the whole sch-ool go up in flames.

“It was partly due to the fact there was not much rubbish in the bins to catch fire.

“Added to that, neighbours called us in very quickly, so we were able to tackle the fire at an early stage and prevent the sort of damage that could have happened.”

One neighbour, who lives opposite the school, said: “The smell of the smoke was really bad. The whole street was full of smoke.

“When I looked out I was surprised to see the roof was on fire, but the firefighters got here really fast.“ Lancashire Police said the fires were being investigated, and an arrest had been made.