A BLAZE-HIT school is rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

The fire, at Grange Primary School, Hartlepool, two years ago, was sparked by a wiring fault. It destroyed eight classrooms, the junior school hall, a classroom for children with learning difficulties and a community wing.

Its 200 pupils had to transfer to cramped, temporary classes.

Rebuilding work, which started in the summer, should be completed by next spring.

The building will include a section for special needs children, and an early years centre housing twice the number of nursery children as before.

A council spokesman said: "The work is going ahead as planned and winter weather permitting, we will have the kids back in the school by April next year."