YOUNG arsonists are being blamed for a blaze which wrecked an empty North-East primary school and put firefighters lives in danger.

Crews from three stations took more than three hours to put out the fire, at New Marske Primary School on Moortown Road, New Marske, near Redcar, on Sunday.

It is thought to have been started between 9.30pm and 9.45pm.

The blaze destroyed the school gym, while the rest of the building was affected by severe smoke damage.

The school, although empty and boarded up, was not in a derelict state.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Fire officers who attended the scene were put at severe risk, due to the severity of the fire.

"Police believe the premises had been broken into and the fire started in the main hall."

Detective Sergeant Chris Sadler, from east Cleveland CID, said: "This fire has all the hallmarks of being committed by young people. The fire has been deliberately set in the hall of the premises. It is a serious offence.

"I believe it is likely to have been committed by local youngsters and I suspect that young people in the area will know who has committed the crime, as will their parents.

"I am looking for anyone who has come home dirty, smelling of smoke or young people showing an interest in fire.

"This was a severe fire which could have caused a loss of life. The premises are certainly unoccupied, but the value of the damage is expected to rise into tens of thousands of pounds.

Station Officer Tom Kerr-Morgan, of Redcar Fire Station, said firefighters' lives were put at risk when they had to search the building for the arsonists who may have been trapped by their own fire. The building was found to be empty.

Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 302020.