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Long Eaton primary school fire: Drone images show full devastation of blaze

A Derbyshire Primary School was ravaged by fire just days before it was due to reopen from lockdown (SWNS)
The entire roof of the Harrington Junior School was detroyed by the blaze (SWNS)

These shocking aerial photographs show the full devastation caused by a huge fire which ripped through a primary school days before it was due to reopen.

Firefighters from nine separate stations rushed to fight the blaze at Harrington Junior School in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, on Thursday lunchtime.

School staff preparing for reopening next week were evacuated as flames tore though the building and smoke billowed into the skies.

Pictures showing the aftermath of the dramatic blaze reveal how the school has been reduced to a blackened shell with classrooms completely gutted by the inferno.

A Derbyshire Primary School was ravaged by fire just days before it was due to reopen from lockdown (SWNS)
Households nearby were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the large plumes of smoke pouring from the fire. (SWNS)
A Derbyshire Primary School was ravaged by fire just days before it was due to reopen from lockdown (Elizabeth Mann/Go Fund Me)
A Derbyshire Primary School was ravaged by fire just days before it was due to reopen from lockdown (Elizabeth Mann/Go Fund Me)

Not one part of the roof appears to have survived the massive fire, which has left staff at the school "heartbroken."

Boris Johnson has confirmed that pupils from Years one and six, and those in Reception, will return to school from 1st June despite the move being labeled by a teaching union as ‘nothing short of reckless’.

A spokesperson for Harrington School said on Thursday evening: "Today has been an extremely difficult day.

"We cannot thank [the emergency services] enough for their work and efforts in trying to save our school but... this has not been possible. All the staff are devastated.

Local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke pouring from the fire.

A Derbyshire Primary School was ravaged by fire just days before it was due to reopen from lockdown (SWNS)
A Go Fund Me campaign to raise money to rebuild the school has already raised more than £1,000 (SWNS)

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue incident commander Dean Gazzard said: “On arrival at the scene firefighters were faced with a well-developed fire in the roof of the building.

“Crews quickly got to work, surrounding the fire and have now brought the fire under control. Unfortunately two of our firefighters sustained minor injuries dealing with the fire and have been taken to hospital for treatment."

A GoFundMe page has already been set up to raise money to rebuild the school following the devastating blaze.

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More than £1,300 was donated to the campaign in the first 12 hours.

The page reads: “Schools are a place for learning but ultimately they are far more than that. They are an integral part of the community that is there for the people they serve.

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“They provide safety, nurturing and signposting to services that are required.

“This pandemic has shown schools are vital for their communities and in less than an hour, Harrington Junior School, a school that was loved by past and present staff, pupils and their families has been devastated by fire.

“Please give what is possible as a small donation can help those that need this much-loved school to be brought back to life.”

Anyone wishing to donate, can do so at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/harrington-junior-school