School fire 'was arson'

The school is expected to be closed for some time

Police investigating a fire at a South Tyneside school say they are now treating it as arson.

Dunn Street Primary, in Jarrow, remained closed on Monday and has been described as unsafe by the area's council.

The fire started in the early hours of Sunday morning, destroying a number of classrooms and the school hall.

An emergency meeting to decide where the 170 children will be taught has failed to find alternative classrooms.

Opposition march

A public meeting will be held on Thursday so the authority can tell parents what is to be done.

At the height of the fire, 40 firefighters were involved in trying to bring the flames under control.

It is only two months since the school escaped closure as part of an overhaul of the area's education system.

Parents of pupils at the Beacon school staged a march to show their opposition to the closure.