TWO 16-year-old girls and a 15-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire caused £100,000 of damage to Westleigh High School.

Hundreds of pupils were evacuated and sent home early after the mid-morning science block blaze.

Anxious staff led pupils to safety after the fire was discovered in the science block during teaching time on Friday. A roll call was taken but nobody was injured in the incident.

Fire crews from Leigh and Atherton spent several hours damping down at the scene and were praised by school head Mr John Pout for their prompt action.

Put out the blaze

At the scene Mr Pout said: "They were here quickly and had put out the blaze within 20 minutes of arriving. Ironically the science building affected will soon be taken out of commission and out new science block is due to open in four weeks."

Initially fire investigators who sifted through the debris thought the cause of the fire had been accidental.

A police spokesman said: "Two girls, aged 16, and a 15 year old boy have been arrested on suspicion of arson and released on police bail pending further inquiries."