AN investigation is underway after a suspected arson attack at a former school.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the former Habergham High School in Kiddrow Lane in Burnley at around 5am after a large amount of smoke was seen coming from the site.

Two fire crews attended and extinguished the blaze which was found to be in an old waste bin in the former school.

Firefighters said they believe the blaze was started deliberately and the damage caused could have been a lot worse.

A fire service spokesman said: "We were called to a fire at the old school in Kiddrow Lane at about 5am.

"There was a lot of smoke coming from the scene.

"Luckily when we got in we found it was just quite a small fire coming from an old waste bin.

"The school is all boarded up so we believe it was started deliberately.

"Nobody was inside the building or was injured."

A suspected arson attack had previously been carried out on the former school in February last year after two fires were started at the site.

In June this year Burnley Council approved plans to demolish the former Habergham and Ivy Bank schools in Burnley and build 250 houses at the site.