EDUCATION Secretary Charles Clarke has pledged to examine figures on school arsons to see if there is a need for extra security after-hours in schools.

The Government Minister made the pledge last week as he reopened Hardwick Primary School, in Sedgefield, County Durham, which was rebuilt after it was hit by arsonists two years ago.

It cost more than £800,000 to repair the school following the blaze.

Mr Clarke told The Northern Echo: "I do not know how serious a problem it is, but it is obviously devastating for the schools when it happens.

"I will ask for some figures so I can look into the matter."

Government figures show that more than 70 per cent of school fires are started deliberately.

Each day on average, three schools in the UK suffer an arson attack.

Fire in schools can often take hold quickly because of the design of the buildings and the absence of anyone on the premises late at night or during holidays.

In 1995, the Arson Prevention Bureau found that 75 per cent of school fires were malicious and caused £31m- worth of damage.

Just nine malicious fires caused more than £13m-worth of damage in schools, with one attack costing £2.5m.

Figures also show that the major target for arsonists has been primary schools.

There have been dozens of cases of arson in North-East schools in the past few years, including Sacriston Junior School, near Chester-le-Street; a devastating fire at Tanfield Comprehensive School, near Stanley, County Durham; Bishopsgarth School, Stockton, Teesside; and West Park Primary School, in Hartlepool.

A blaze at Murphy Crescent School, in Bishop Auckland, which caters for children with severe learning difficulties, cost £1.3m to repair after arsonists burnt it to the ground.

The arson problem continues despite campaigns by police and councils to crack down on the problem.

Measures taken include night-time patrols of schools by police and security firms, and police threatening to use anti-social behaviour orders on persistent offenders.

* More than £1m of damage was caused to Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington last month. The roof was on fire and there was major internal damage. Two 14-year-old youths have been bailed pending further inquiries.