ARSONISTS have caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to a Colne primary school.

Park Primary School staff, parents and children were ‘devastated’ after finding a main storage building filled with outdoor play equipment and school supplies had been destroyed.

Headteacher Jo Hale said they had also lost valuable teaching resources in the fire.

He said: “Everybody is devastated and the children keep asking, ‘who would do this to our school?’

“The contents of the building which have been lost are worth thousands.

“Also the whole building will need to be replaced, which will cost tens of thousands.

“I have really struggled to put an exact price on the loss we have suffered.

"We have also lost the bread-and-butter, day-to-day stuff we use for teaching – pencils, paints and paper.

“It has caused massive inconvenience. It’s completely senseless."

Police believe the culprits forced their way into the timber outbuilding and then set items within it on fire.

They have urged any potential witnesses to step forward to help them with their investigation.

A police spokeswoman said: “We take offences of this nature very seriously and would urge anybody with information that could assist us to get in touch as soon as possible.”

The blaze broke out in the schoolyard at around 1.30am on Sunday.

Anyone with information about the fire or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the incident should call police on 01282 472441 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.