MORE than 270 children were evacuated from a school after a fire broke out.

This photograph, taken on May 1, 1969, shows the damage made to the £70,000 building.

At the time it was thought children were responsible for the vandalism. It was the fourth time in two weeks that the building had been subjected to vandalism between April and May.

The fire started as priests and sisters-in-religion attended a choir and organ recital being given by Blackburn Cathedral choir in nearby St. Alban's Church.

The blaze had broken out in the main hall and was spotted by a passerby who ran to the church to tell the parish priest, Dean George Hughes, who was at the recital.

Doors were destroyed along with walls and parts of the floor.