NEW flame retardant curtains helped prevent a Partington school being razed to the ground in an arson attack.

Youngsters at Ortonbrook Primary School are being given packed lunches this week after firebugs torched their hall, which doubles as the school canteen.

Arsonists struck at the Oak Road school on Saturday night - climbing onto the flat hall roof and removing part of a roof light window in oder to drop a lighted rag onto curtains below.

The blaze caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and the hall needs major repairs but head head teacher Leisa Downes says she is relieved the blaze didn't spread to the rest of the school.

Flame retardant curtains had only recently been hung in the hall - helping to stop the fire taking hold before an alert neighbour spotted smoke and raised the alarm.

Children were kept off school on Monday while damage was assessed but were back in lessons on Tuesday.

Mrs Downes has condemned the attack as "senseless" and told SAM: "This has caused extensive damage and is very demoralising because we pride ourselves on our school and try to make it as attractive and welcoming as possible.

"We have been extremely lucky. If we had had the old curtains up I don't think the school would have still been here. We only recently put up the flame retardant curtains and only one of them was damaged."

Work to replace the hall's ceiling tiles and floor and repair smoke damage is expected to take three weeks. The school hopes it will be completed for the start of the summer term.

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