PARENTS and children at a village school have thanked everyone who helped relocate them to a new building after arsonists attacked their school.

Middleton St George Primary School was attacked two weeks ago and the fire destroyed a number of classrooms and the roof of the Victorian building.

While repairs are continuing at the school, the children and teachers have moved into the former Firthmoor Primary School, in Darlington, which was closed when its pupils moved to a new building recently.

Lessons started at temporary accommodation on Monday, after a week of work to turn the boarded-up Firthmoor School back into a working classrooms. Pupils are being bussed every morning to Firthmoor and are expected to continue with lessons in Darlington until Easter.

Michelle Bailey, speaking for a group of the parents and pupils from the school said: "Some of the other parents and I would like to say thank you to acting headteacher Janine Gleeson and all the teachers at the school as well as the PTA, the Mayor Doris Jones, the parish council and Darlington Borough Council.

"Everyone helped make Firthmoor so welcoming for the children on Monday.