A HEADTEACHER says he is struggling to come to terms with an arson attack that destroyed part of his school, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

St Clement's CE Primary School in St John's, Worcester, was attacked late on Saturday, wrecking vital play equipment.

This morning, Worcester Police arrested six people in connection with the fire, and a separate minor blaze at Christopher Whitehead Language College, also in St John's.

Acting headteacher Stuart Vaughan said: "How do I explain this to the children when I don't even understand it myself?"

Six holes were kicked in the school roof, debris was thrown in a fishpond, three wooden playhouses were destroyed and the sandpit was used as a toilet.

An outbuilding storing toys for three and four-year-olds was completely gutted and the heat from the fire blew out two windows of an adjacent classroom.

Mr Vaughan said: "It's beyond belief. Children from the age of three are going to have their lives affected and their curriculum disrupted. It does make you wonder what society will turn out like."

Many of the toys, including bikes and trikes, had been bought after fund-raising over many years. Mr Vaughan said he hoped parents would come to the rescue and donate more equipment.

"There's not an area of the school that hasn't been affected," said Mr Vaughan.

"One classroom has smoke and water damage. Trees were uprooted and thrown on the roof.

"Handrails and steps to give access to the playground for children with disabilities have been smashed to pieces."

The alarm was raised by a witness who called 999 from a mobile phone at 11pm on Saturday.

Three fire engines took half an hour to bring the blaze under control. Forensic investigators spent yesterday searching for evidence in the remains.

Worcester Fire Station manager Brendan Connolly said: "Potentially this fire could have been even worse and endangered the whole school building.

"We're pretty certain it was arson."

Parent governor David Broster said he was appalled by the wreckage.

He said: "You just don't know what to feel at a time like this."

:: Four men and two people under 18 have been arrested and remain in custody.

Two hours after the fire at St Clement's, crews tackled a blaze at Christopher Whitehead in a paper bank and four bins.

Worcester Police would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious.

Call 08457 444888, quoting 594S/151005 for St Clement's and 11C/161005 for Christopher Whitehead.