ARSONISTS wrecked classrooms and equipment worth £80,000 at an Oxfordshire school in February 1980.

Flames swept through Wallingford Upper School after three different fires were started that month.

Shortly afterwards, fire-raisers also struck at a sports pavilion next to Wallingford Community Hospital, forcing it to be evacuated.

Both of the fires were treated as arson by the investigations team.

At the time, seven fire engines rushed to the Wallingford school, but were too late to save the four temporary classrooms which were gutted.

One of the fires had been started in the classrooms, another in the main school office and the third in the sixth form common room.

Headmaster David Kershaw said most of the fifth year's O level and GCSE course work had been lost but thankfully teachers took some home.

The big clean-up was due to take place in the half-term in a bid to minimise disruption on the pupils.