POLICE are investigating a fire at a school believed to have been started by children.

Firefighters were called to Our Lady and the Lancashire Martyrs Primary School in Little Hulton just after 6pm last night.

The roof of the boiler room, where the fire started, was badly damaged and there was some smoke damage to the kitchen next door.

Children had been spotted on the roof of the school in Wicheaves Crescent shortly before the fire took hold.

Station Officer Bill Edwards from Farnworth Fire Station said: "We had several calls from people who could see thick black smoke coming from the roof of the school.

"Fortunately we managed to put the fire out before it spread. The fact that someone has set fire to a primary school is distressing but hopefully they will be able to re-open after the holiday."