Another school at Chichester has been badly damaged in an arson attack.

A timber-framed building containing two classrooms was destroyed early yesterday in the grounds of Chichester High School for Girls.

It was the second night running that a school in the city had been set on fire.

On Wednesday night a classroom at St James' Primary School, a mile away, was badly damaged in an arson attack.

The latest fire was spotted just before 1am by night cleaners working on the Kingsham Road campus.

More than 30 firefighters stopped the blaze spreading to the main school.

Sub Officer Tim Smart, of Chichester fire station, said: "The building was a timber-framed one and at one stage a gas pipe fractured and there was a fireball.

"But we managed to prevent the fire from spreading from the annex to the main school although the building had to be ventilated because of smoke."

The school is expected to reopen at the start of the next term on September 5.

West Sussex County Council spokeswoman Jane Robinson said the council was very concerned about two successive arson attacks on schools.

Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to call them on 0845 6070 999.