THREE teenage boys including an existing pupil have been arrested in connection with an arson attack at a high school more than a year ago.

A 17-year-old former pupil and a 15-year-old current pupil were arrested and questioned on Tuesday over the fire at Darwen Moorland High School which caused £250,000 worth of damage in July 2006.

A 16-year-old boy was also arrested and questioned yesterday. All three were released on bail until August 23.

Det Sgt Ian Geogarty of Darwen police said: "In reference to the fire three people have been arrested and bailed. The enquiries are still continuing."

The fire, which was lit near the stage in the main hall, spread from the hall through the school, damaging staff rooms, the dining room, kitchens, a classroom and corridors.

The destruction led to the Holden Fold high school closing early for the summer holidays and an intense clean-up operation over the school summer holidays.

Thanks to the efforts of staff who spent their seven-week break cleaning and re-decorating the school opened on time for the first day of the September term.

After the fire the school hall could not be used unttil March this year and more than £500,000 was spent on refurbishments, which included a new sound system, refurbished stage and lighting rig.

Nine months after the blaze Darwen Moorland held a concert in March to mark and celebrate the end of refurbishment and disruption to normal school service.

Head teacher Chris Morris was not available for comment after the arrests but in March said that the heart had been restored to the school with the opening of the new hall.

"The heart of the school is complete now," he said.

"The youngsters have been very accommodating because we have lost a big space and had to hold assemblies in other parts of the school, but now we can have concerts and assemblies and it gives us a focal point."