A SUSPECTED arson attack by youngsters which has gutted a derelict school has prompted police to tell parents to keep an eye on their children during the summer holidays.

The former primary school at Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, was almost totally destroyed by a blaze thought to have started when a child's campfire spread to the wooden floor.

A gang of ten-year-olds are the prime suspects for Sunday's fire and police and fire officers are urging parents to discourage their children from playing near crumbling structures.

Residents in the ex-pit village will see this weekend's destruction as a set-back for a community that in recent years has tried to put its troubled past behind it.

Acting Detective Sergeant Mick Wilson, of Chester-le-Street CID, said the summer holidays often bring out more mischievous youngsters.

He said: "People in the village will know who is responsible for this, so I would appeal for them to contact us.

"Inquiries are ongoing at the moment, but we have seen things that suggest it could have been a childish prank that went wrong."

The school, which was due to be demolished anyway later in the summer, quickly caught fire at about 3pm.

Fuelled by wooden panelling on the floor, furniture and books, the fire quickly spread to the roof and, for a brief period, threatened nearby terraced houses.

Five engines, hose reels and aerial ladders were used to tackle the blaze that all but destroyed what was once the village's primary school.

The fire brigade took two hours to extinguish the blaze, but remained at the scene for another four hours as a precaution.

Fire service chiefs say they have found evidence of about six other campfires at the school in the past couple of months.

Det Sgt Wilson continued: "We know the school, which has been used as the village's community centre in recent years, has been a hang-out for children and some young people using drugs.

"It was a beautiful day on Sunday and we don't expect parents to keep their children indoors during the summer holidays.

"But we would ask them to keep an eye on where their children are. With some parents there is an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude.

"Unfortunately this could lead to more serious consequences, so parents must tell their youngsters to stay away from old buildings like this."