CALLOUS vandals burned to the ground a wooden building in Keighley used as a "forest school classroom" for disabled children.

The property in the grounds of Phoenix School, Braithwaite, was torched by a pair of youths late last Saturday afternoon. (Sept 6) Head teacher Rachel Stirland said this was not the first time the building had been attacked. "We've got some profoundly disabled children here who can't access mainstream activities and we provide those activities for them here, so for this to happen is really upsetting," she said.

"The people who did this would have had to climb over a fence to get to the classroom. It's very disappointing.

"The building had been vandalised a couple of times already. It's been graffitied before."

School community support co-ordinator, Jason Patefield, said the school was passing security camera footage of the incident to the police. He added that the fire was started at about 5pm.

He said the forest classroom, which was located behind the main school building, had only been erected a little over a year ago, and had cost £3,000.

"I got a call from our neighbours saying the fire brigade was at the school," he said. "I came back into school when the fire brigade had put the fire out, but the building was completely destroyed. It's totally gone, just turned to ashes.

"We have had some vandalism there before, but nothing as severe as this.

"It's absolutely disgusting. Our children don't ask for much and I can't understand why anyone would want to do something like this to our kids.

"The forest school classroom was there for them as a small treat, and to help provide some outdoor experiences for them. It was a solid, timber building with glass panel doors and accessible for children in wheelchairs.

"We only have about eight pupils to a class, so you could fit a whole class in there. We hope we'll be able to get a similar, new classroom."

Mrs Stirland said that before the property was destroyed it was planned to begin using it in conjunction with neighbouring Merlin Top School.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers were called to Phoenix School at 5.47pm last Saturday. He said investigations were continuing, and that anyone with information on the fire should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.