A SCHOOL had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in a classroom cupboard.

The blaze started just before the end of lessons, at about 3.30pm on Monday, at the Loftus site of Freebrough Community College, east Cleveland.

After smoke alarms alerted staff, they evacuated the building. Damage was caused to the cupboard and paper being stored there, and the classroom was filled with smoke.

Peter Garrod, co-director of the site, said: "We don't know how the fire happened. It was put out very quickly and, as we don't use the classroom, the school is open as normal.