Police hunting for school fireraisers

POLICE were today hunting for the fireraisers they suspect caused serious damage to a former Angus primary school at the weekend.

An officer was stationed on the site of the old Wellbrae Primary in Forfar today following Saturday’s blaze.

Up to 50 firefighters tackled the incident at its height, with large parts of the building now destroyed.

Much of the property’s roof caved in as a result of the blaze.

Now police are treating the incident as suspicious and looking to find those responsible for causing the fire.

A source told the Tele that the security of the site was set to be handed over from the police to Angus Council today.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said today: “A joint investigation was carried out with our colleagues at Police Scotland yesterday and we can confirm the fire is being treated as deliberate.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said nobody had been charged as the Tele went to press.

John Ross, 74, has lived next to the school for more than 40 years.

He told the Tele: “It’s been absolutely devastating. I couldn’t believe my eyes — the whole thing was up in flames and spread quickly.

“Before you knew it, the whole building was destroyed.”

Councillor Glennis Middleton, who represents the Forfar area, said today: “I’m really saddened by what has happened.

“An iconic building in Forfar looks like it’s been absolutely destroyed. I’d like to thank all the emergency services for all their brave and hard work.”

Fire units from across Dundee and Angus were involved in tackling the fire, which started in the C-listed building just before 7pm.

That included a height appliance and heavy rescue unit from Dundee.

The fire crews took around two hours to bring the outbreak fully under control and remained on the scene until 2am yesterday.

Forfar firefighters returned to the scene yesterday to douse hotspots within the charred shell of the school.

The property has previously been granted planning permission for a conversion into housing but has never been developed.

Community leaders have said that the school has become a frequent target for vandals since it was shut in 2008.

Police within the grounds of the former Wellbrae Primary School today, where the damage to the roof is visible.