AN investigation was under way today into the cause of a fire which ripped through a school annexe.

Fire crews spent about two hours tackling the blaze at Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle.

The fire, in a woodwork storeroom, destroyed some wood stocks but did not damage pupils' work.

Management at the school in Haworth Street said today it was business as usual. The fire started about 8.50pm yesterday in the single storey building.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze, which was hard to tackle because of the amount of wood stored there.

Station officer Chris Hollis said: "It was a very difficult fire to locate. The area of the building was packed with desks, furniture and woodwork and it was thickly smoke logged."

The storeroom was destroyed and the next door room badly smoke damaged.

Staff from the school were at the scene and watched as firefighters tackled the blaze.

Les Newton, head of design and technology, said: "Fortunately the fire didn't damage any of the pupils' work.

"That was what I was most concerned about."

Headteacher Barry Burke said: "We are hoping that this isn't going to affect the kids in any way.

"It is half term next week. Even today things will go on as normal."

The room had not been used by pupils because the department is moving into a new block being built next to the main building.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze.