PART of Cressex Community School, High Wycombe has been destroyed by fire in a suspected arson attack.

The English department burnt to the ground and a block of the Modern Languages department was damaged by a separate fire overnight.

Four crews spent two hours bringing the fire under control using three hose reels and breathing apparatus.

The single storey brick English department, containing two classrooms, was destroyed by the fire.

Some of the brickwork has crumbled away form the building, which stands separate from the main school block.

The Modern Languages block - which is again not connected to the main block - was damaged by a small fire.

Paul Flintham, Beaconsfield crew manager, said: "When we arrived the main fire was well progressed. Flames were visible from the building, 50 per cent of which was well alight.

"The second fire had nearly extinguished by itself by the time it was discovered.

"There would have been a danger of it spreading to other buildings, but the crews worked hard to prevent that happening."

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Firefighters received several emergency calls about the blaze at the school in Holmers Lane around 2am.