A FIRE has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at Smithills School.

The blaze took hold in the east wing of the school's upper building at about 7.40am on Saturday.

When firefighters arrived, three classrooms and a section of the roof were alight.

Only swift action by fire crews stopped the blaze from spreading to the rest of the building.

The cause of the fire is being treated as suspicious.

It broke out on the ground floor of the three-storey building in Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, and left three classrooms wrecked and six others smoke damaged.

Four fire engines and one aerial platform were called to the scene and four firefighters were sent inside the burning building to put out the blaze.

They saved the central computer hub in the building from being damaged.

But modern language and media studies coursework is thought to have been ruined by the fire.

And some interactive equipment was destroyed.

Pupils will not be able to return to school next Monday (January 9) after the Christmas break.

But most will be back in their classrooms the following day, Tuesday, January 10.

Education chiefs are now counting the costs of the fire.

Headteacher Ken Howell said: "It's very disappointing because this school has made tremendous strides in the last nine months.

"But this won't deter us from making more progress.

"It's just something else we will cope with and I am sure the children will show resilience and support for the school until we can get back to normal."

Mr Howell said the school would remain closed to pupils on Monday, January 9, although school staff, both teaching and non-teaching, would be at work.

On Tuesday, January 10, Years 8, 9,10 and 11 will return to school.

But Year 7 will remain at home all next week.

It is intended that all year groups will be back at school from Monday, January 16.

The school is to write to parents this week to confirm details.

Mr Howell said that it was hoped that temporary classrooms would be brought in while the damaged block was repaired.

He paid tribute to the fire service for the way it had protected one of the schools main computer hubs.

He will assess the situation further with his staff and with Bolton Council this week

Sub-officer Graham Banks from Bolton North fire station said: "Once a fire is in the roof, it is easy to lose a whole building. Here, only one quarter of the building has been lost."

Inspector Simon Miskell from Greater Manchester Police added: "The cause of the fire is under investigation and we have a number of inquiries to make. I would appeal for any witnesses who think they may have seen anything suspicious to contact the police immediately."

Fire crews spent the rest of Saturday at the scene while investigations were carried out.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The school says work for Year 7 pupils, who will be away from school next week, wiill be available on the website www.smithills.bolton.sch.uk or from the school office.