ARSONISTS caused up to £250,000 damage and risked the lives of pupils when they attacked a private boarding school in Malvern, according to the principal.

Four classrooms at Abbey International College were completely destroyed and two others were damaged beyond repair, as 120 teenagers slept in dormitories 100 yards away yesterday morning.

After arsonists started several fires at the College Road site, at 4am, firefighters battled to stop flames spreading to the teenagers' sleeping quarters. They were successful, but took nearly two hours to extinguish the blaze.

Principal Philip Moere said he did not think any Abbey pupils were involved in causing the fire.

"It leaves a bad taste in the mouth to think that somebody would do such a thing to a school," said Mr Moere.

"We have already begun to carry out a review of the security arrangements.

"The fire brigade has been very helpful in making suggestions about where we can shore up our security," he said.

CCTV cameras and reinforced gates are among the possibilities that are being considered for the new security measures.

The independent college, on Wells Road, has around 120 overseas students during the academic year.

The classrooms that were destroyed would have been used by some of the 350 people who enrol on summer courses.

"We don't actually use them during the academic year," said Mr Moere. "We weren't planning on using them until June when the summer courses begin.

"We now have a couple of weeks to find more classroom space - we already have some places in mind so we should be okay."

Those who enrol on the summer courses, which are all English classes, pay around £300 per week.

A police investigation into the attack is under way.