A HEADTEACHER who rebuilt a village school after it was destroyed by arsonists is leaving to become a troubleshooter for the county council.

Viv Clark, of Brindle Gregson Lane Primary, Hoghton, said it would 'be a massive wrench to leave' when she told staff and pupils.

The school was thrown into the spotlight in May 2001 after two young firebugs torched a wheelie bin causing a blaze which destroyed the school building.

For two years, staff taught pupils in portable buildings set up on playing fields while a new £2m school was built, which opened in September.

Mrs Clark, who leaves next month, after 12 years at the school, said: "It will be a massive wrench to leave because I am the school and the school is me.

"We have achieved so muchand, if anything, the fire has brought this community closer together than ever.

"I could happily stay here until I retired, but I didn't want to pass up the opportunity only to think five years further down the line 'I wish I'd done that'."

As a local education authority adviser, Mrs Clark will go into the county's primary schools to help boost effectiveness.

She said: "It is a massive promotion and I do have a lot to learn. But I think the fire and dealing with it has taught me a lot as well.

"I have nothing but fond memories of this community, which responded so well to something which could have destroyed it."