A SCHOOL will stay closed for more than a week after arsonists torched a recycling bin causing almost £200,000 damage.

Pupils are due to return to Princes Risborough Upper School from the half-term break on Monday but the fire damage is so bad the school will probably stay shut until next Wednesday.

Firefighters were called to the Merton Road school on Sunday night after the blaze was started in a paper recycling bin and spread under the school's boiler room.

Flames ripped through the ceiling causing damage to the stage in the main school hall. The fire also destroyed the school's heating, electric and telephone systems.

A spokesman for Bucks County Council said: "There has been quite extensive damage. We will be starting repair work as soon as possible to get the school up and running.

"What we can say is that the fire has had a major impact and the school will probably not open until Wednesday."

Gaynor Hartle, headteacher at the school, said she was keeping parents informed and added: "The school is very disappointed with this recent fire incident. We will be working closely with the police to ensure we find the culprit."

Three fire crews were called to the school just after 10pm last Sunday and spent one-and-a-half hours battling the blaze.

Gemma Sulston, who lives in Clifford Road, saw the fire from her house.

Miss Sulston, who works for the Free Press, said: "I looked out of my window and saw smoke billowing from the school that was just after two fire engines went up there. It looked quite serious."

The cost of repair work is estimated to be between £150,000 and £200,000.

DC Mark Darnbrough, of High Wycombe CID, said police suspect arson.

He added: "We are currently investigating the incident. We don't however believe that whoever started the fire intended to cause this amount of damage to the school. Given the extent of the damage it is fortunate that no-one was hurt."

Anyone with information is urged to contact DC Darnbrough on 01494 465888.

February 14, 2002 13:38