YOUNG vandals are being blamed for fire at a school in Great Lever.

Firefighters spent nearly an hour tackling the blaze at SS Simon and Jude in Newport Road on Wednesday night.

It is understood children managed to break into the heavily fenced school grounds and clamber on to the roof, where they started two fires and set light to an external security lamp.

Smoke set off the alarm, alerting the caretaker and firefighters from Farnworth station at about 8.30pm.

Work was under way yesterday to repair the damaged roof and the school is expected to be open as normal after the holidays.

A fire service spokesman said: "We were called to the school following reports of a fire on the roof. We had problems accessing the site because the gates were locked.

"A group of children had been seen playing on the roof and had set fire to an external security light before starting two further small fires.

"The security light was destroyed and there was minor damage to the roof."

A Bolton Council spokesman added: "The school suffered minimal damage as a result of two separate, small fires.

"We expect the repair work to be completed within 24 hours and there will be no detrimental effect to the pupils. The school has not suffered any internal damage and will reopen as expected next week.

"We take any acts of vandalism very seriously and would urge anyone with information about those responsible to contact the police."