A BLAZE at a primary school, which damaged a storage area, is being treated as arson, investigators have said.

Two appliances from York fire station attended a small blaze at a garage at Hempland Primary School, in Whitby Avenue, on Monday night.

The garage, which appeared to be used as a storage facility and is believed to have contained some computer equipment, was alight at about 7.30pm.

Firefighters used thermal imaging equipment, and both the police and the school keyholders were called.

A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said that the fire started in bins and spread down a walkway and into the garage. There was fire damage both to the bins and the garage. The spokesman said that the fire had been started deliberately.

Headteacher Kay Ledger said: "There is quite a lot of damage to the garage itself and some equipment has been damaged. I can't estimate how much it will cost.