Primary school fire 'was arson'

An overnight fire which destroyed most of a County Antrim school is being treated as arson, police have said.

When crews arrived at Whitehouse Primary School in Newtownabbey shortly after 0230 BST a number of different areas of the school were alight.

Nearby homes had to be evacuated for a time as strong winds fanned flames towards the properties and a funeral parlour.

Seventy firefighters and more than 20 appliances were tasked.

The principal of Whitehouse Primary School, David McConkey, said he was "absolutely devastated".

"It is a dreadful day for the school in terms of the damage that has been done to the building and the resources within it," he said.

"Parents and pupils have been in contact and they are very upset."

Chris Kerr of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said "75% of the main school building was severely damaged".

"Such was the strength of the wind and the ferocity of the blaze that fire was spreading through trees and large amounts of burning embers were falling on property around the area," he continued.

"We had to ask the police to evacuate some residents for their safety.

"Sadly, the early indications are that this fire has been deliberate."

Officers managed to prevent the fire spreading to the school gymnasium and a number of other rooms.

Councillor Noreen McClelland described the overnight attack as "despicable".

"Almost the entire school has been destroyed by the low lifes who carried out this contemptible attack," said the SDLP representative.

"People living nearby had to be evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night which caused great distress particularly to young children and elderly residents.

"Whoever carried this attack out must have known the danger they were putting several families in."

The North Eastern Education and Library Board said new accommodation would be found for the school and it would be "up and running again by September".