St Peter's Primary was torched deliberately

Aug 14 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

POLICE have confirmed that a fire which caused more than £½m worth of damage to a Hamilton school was started deliberately.

Detectives are now appealing for witnesses to the blaze which destroyed the annexe of St Peter’s Primary School.

Police and firefighters rushed to the Highstonehall Road primary after the fire was discovered about 9.55pm on Monday.

It took around 20 firefighters along with three pumps and an aerial appliance several hours to bring the flames under control.

Neighbours living nearby fled their homes as they watched the fire take hold.

Mum of two Alexandra Davis, whose Forest Gate home backs on to the school, said: “The street was black with smoke.

“Everyone was out to see what had happened.

“I had to leave the house with my two children because the fire was getting close to my back garden.

“I was frightened that the trees would go up. The flames would die down but then it would flare back up again.

“We have been told to stay out our back garden now because one of the walls on the annexe is unsafe.

“We have all been awake more or less the whole night.”

And Forest Gate resident Janet Knapman, who has a three-year-old son Brett and Ethan (7), also watched as the fire spread.

She said: “I had been watching the television but when I looked outside I noticed a haze coming over the street.

“I looked out the back and noticed the fire at the school.

“Both kids were in bed and I had to wake them up in the middle of the night to tell them there was a fire and that we had better get out of the house.

“The fire was at the back of the house behind our back garden fence and our house was filling up with smoke.

“I put the kids in the car and waited outside until the fire was under control.

“You could hear the fire brigade hammering in the windows of the school annexe with a crow bar – the school just went up.

“When we got back into the house later it was really warm. It was like I had left the heating on.

“The fire is still smouldering just now and that’s 11 hours after it first began.”

Detective constable Ronnie Payne who is investigating the incident said: “I am appealing to a group of youths who were in the park area at the time of this incident to come forward as they may have seen those responsible.

“I would also urge anyone with information to speak to the police.

“This fire has damaged a lot of school property and it is important that those responsible are traced.

“Fortunately, the main building of the school was undamaged and won’t affect children returning to school after the summer holidays.”

Anyone who has further information on this crime should contact Hamilton CID on 01698 483359.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.