A FIRE service has praised a school for installing sprinklers which it says protected them from "serious damage" following a blaze.

Cleveland Fire Brigade was called to a fire at Bydales School on Marlborough Avenue in Marske on Monday evening.

The fire was caused by an electrical fault in a washing machine which was situated in the caretaker’s office.

Two fire engines attended the incident, one from Redcar and one from Skelton, but the fire was already out on their arrival.

The incident comes just weeks after Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton praised Hartlepool Borough Council’s move to introduce a policy ensuring sprinkler systems will be included in all plans for new schools.

Joe Founders, head of fire engineering said, “Thanks to the sprinklers, the fire was kept contained and also extinguished, creating only minimum fire damage the area.

"Had the sprinklers not been there, the fire could have easily spread causing severe damage to the school, impacting on the student’s education.

"Thankfully the school was still able to open yesterday morning."