ARSONISTS caused extensive damage to a classroom block at a Malvern school today.

Firefighters tackling the blaze at Abbey International College found that portable classrooms had been broken into and three fires started.

Students living on the Wells Road campus, 500 yards away, slept safely as the blaze took hold shortly after 4.30am.

College principal Philip Moer said four classrooms were either destroyed or seriously damaged and another two were unusable.

"It's very upsetting," he said.

The £12,950-a-year independent college, which has around 120 overseas students during the academic year, uses the classrooms for students on summer courses.

"We now have a couple of weeks to find more classroom space," he added. "We'll be looking for classroom space in the area - we have a primary school nearby, so we should be all right."

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie confirmed that the fire investigation team had discovered that the blaze was started deliberately.

"Police are now investigating," he added.