A SCHOOL hit by arsonists could remain partially closed until after the Christmas holidays.

Firebugs torched a classroom at Moorhead High School's Queens Road West annex, Accrington, on Tuesday evening, and damaged several other classrooms in the process.

Work was today continuing to clean up the partially damaged rooms while workmen assess whether the main fire-ravaged classroom can be saved.

Upper school pupils are due to return to school today, using the Cromwell Avenue building only. The larger Queens Road West building remains out of bounds and no date has been set for the return of some 550 lower school pupils.

A spokesman for the school, which has been hit by firebugs twice in two months, said: "The upper school pupils are due back today and we hope that pupils in the lower school will be back next Wednesday, but we don't know that for certain. "We shut on December 22 so it could be that they don't return before Christmas. Nothing is certain yet."

Joan Hayselden, acting head at Moorhead High School, added: "Parents need to ask themselves whether their children were involved in this arson.

"If they were and they get away with it, they will only think they can do it again, and that could have disastrous consequences.

"We don't know the full extent of the damage yet or when we will be able to start using the damaged classrooms. The general teaching room which was at the centre of the blaze is absolutely gutted."

Detective Inspector Bob Eastwood, from Accrington CID, said: "The people responsible for this arson could have had no idea if anyone was in the school when they started the blaze. They were quite happy to put lives on the line.

"This fire has disrupted a school and affected the education of pupils at a very important time in their lives.

"As a result the whole community has been affected and we would ask anyone who knows anything about the fire to contact us."

Anyone who any information can call 01254 382141.