AN arson-hit primary school is open for business again.

Sacriston Primary School, in Witton Road, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, was closed for lessons last week after a fire was started in a classroom used by eight-year-olds.

It caused serious damage to that room and minor damage to adjacent classrooms and a corridor.

The fire was discovered by the school's 55-year-old caretaker at 7am last Friday, when he went to open the building.

On finding the blaze, he inhaled smoke and had to be given oxygen by firefighters at the scene and was later taken to the University Hospital of Durham as a precaution.

Over the weekend, specialist cleaners went into the school to make it ready for pupils, and 200 children returned to lessons on Monday.

A spokeswoman for County Durham Education Authority said: "The school was reopened on Monday after specialist cleaners had been in.

"There was superficial damage to the classroom where the fire started, so that is not being used yet, but pupils are now using other rooms."

l A 19-year-old local man was arrested last week following a blaze at Sacriston Junior School. He was interviewed and released, pending further inquiries.