Lake used to put out fire at former school

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING a blaze at a derelict school in north Leeds had to pump water from the lake at nearby Roundhay Park to tackle the flames.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had used a special tool, which can pump high volumes of water over great distances, to help tackle the flames at the former Elmete Wood School, in Roundhay.

Crews were called to the scene at about 6pm on Saturday, and at the height of the blaze flames could be seen from up to a mileand-a-half away.

Watch commander Tim Pallister said the roof of the school has been destroyed and the building will now likely need to be demolished.

He said: “The fire’s mainly out. There’s a few pockets of fire left that we are currently dealing with.”

ENGLAND RUGBY star Joe Cokanasiga has called on the Government to halt its “betrayal” of Commonwealth members of the armed forces as his father battles for a visa to be allowed residency in the UK.

Ilaitia Cokanasiga served in the Royal Logistic Corps for 14 years, completing operational tours to Iraq and Afghanistan but he still faces applying for a visa to remain in the UK.

And he must now pay fees which total £2,389 to complete the application.

His son has now made an appeal for the fees to be removed and the process simplified for the many families struggling through the application process.

He is supporting a three-year campaign by the Royal British Legion.

A Government spokeswoman said: “We are hugely grateful to the contribution of all our armed forces. The Home Office and Ministry of Defence work closely with our non-UK recruits to make sure they are fully aware of how they and their families can settle in the UK, and the costs involved.”