FIREFIGHTERS have urged on education bosses to secure disused school buildings after two arson attacks.

Crews were returning to their base off Byrom Street, Blackburn, when they spotted smoke coming from the old St Wilfrid's High School annex.

They went to investigate and found fires had been started in two separate areas.

Station officer Kevin Gibson said: "While a lot of the building is boarded up, it is quite easy to get in round the back. It is the sort of building which would attract people wanting to start fires. The concern for us is that each fire will make the roof of the building less secure, which in turn makes our job more perilous."

The Byrom Street annexe closed when the £12million redevelopment of the school's main Duckworth Street site was completed last year.

Arsonists were also blamed for two fires in the former St Wilfrid's building in Byrom Street in April.