A SOPHISTICATED fire alarm system saved a school from serious damage last night after vandals set the building ablaze.

The fire was started in a pile of newspapers placed in an alcove outside All Saints Primary School in Golborne, but spread indoors to a store room.

However, a fire and smoke alarm sent an early warning to Leigh Fire Station and damage was confined to the store room.

A fire spokesman said: "Although the store room was severely damaged, it could have been much much worse, particularly with this happening on Bonfire Night.

"If the alarms had not gone off to give early warning, who knows how long it would have taken before we were alerted.

"Usually people spot these fires early on, but last night, the smoke would have just blended in with the rest of the bonfires in the area.

"It could have caused serious damage and this clearly shows the value of the smoke and fire alarms."

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