School stays closed due to fire damage

A NORTH Shields school remained closed yesterday after a fire caused damage at the site.

The blaze broke out in the design and technology area of St Thomas More Roman Catholic Academy, on Lynn Road, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The fire was contained to one room but caused extensive damage to the metalwork room, wooden store and roof of the building.

Firefighters were called the school at around 2am and were at the scene for around seven hours.

The academy had to close following the incident.

In a message to parents on Tuesday evening, headteacher David Watson said: “As you know, due to this morning’s fire, the fire alarm system in most of the wider school is currently out of action.”

No-one was injured in the blaze and the cause is believed to be accidental.