A 14-YEAR OLD boy has been charged with arson in connection with a fire which virtually destroyed a Suffolk middle school.

Russell Claydon

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy is due to appear in court today charged with causing a fire that devastated a Suffolk middle school.

The youth, who is from the Newmarket area but cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with arson last night by detectives investigating the blaze at St Felix Middle School in the town.

He was due to appear before Ipswich Youth Court this morning to face the charge.

The major fire last Tuesday left some of the school's 400 pupils and their parents “sick with horror” as they watched the building almost burn to the ground.

The 14-year-old was arrested on suspicion of arson last Wednesday and given police bail. A 13-year-old boy who was also arrested has had his bail cancelled and no further action will be taken against him.

The fire has left pupils and staff at the school waiting to hear Suffolk County Council's plans to re-house them ahead of the new term, which is just a few weeks away.

Patricia O'Brien, the council's portfolio holder for children schools and young people's services, said letters would be going out to parents this week with an update on their progress.

She said: “We have been inundated with messages and offers of support from schools and companies both locally and from further afield. We are now working through these kind offers to make sure that their generosity is not wasted.”