Arsonists set fire to a former school in the Black Country, bringing scores of residents out on to the streets to watch as smoke and flames billowed from the building.

Up to 40 per cent of the former Danesmore Park Primary School in Russell Close, Wednesfield, was destroyed in the daylight attack.

The blaze took firefighters more than two hours to put out as it ripped through the building causing several sections of the roof to collapse.

Danesmore closed in December 2007.

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The fires comes less than three weeks after arson attacks at Wilkinson Primary School in Bilston and Tipton’s former RSA Academy.

A wing of Elston Park Primary School in Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, was also destroyed by another arson attack in August.

The Danesmore blaze was started at 2.15pm yesterday and firefighters from Walsall, Bloxwich, Tettenhall and Fallings Park attended.

Police cordoned off Russell Close and part of nearby Ferguson Street, while paramedics waited on stand-by.

No one was hurt in the fire but the more than a third of the building was completely destroyed.

Firefighters returned to the scene today to ensure the building was safe.

Former Danesmore pupil Kimberley Chilton, aged 18, from Dove Street, watched as the drama unfolded.

She said: “I live over the back of the school and I heard all the engines from upstairs in my bedroom.

“There was thick black smoke. It was a really good school. It’s a real shame.”

Griffiths Drive resident Jessica Bruce, 18, who also attended the school as a child, added: “My mum worked there and my three sisters went there too. My mum’s devastated.”

Nursery nurse Lisa Gannon, 19, also from Griffiths Drive, said that the school had a wonderful reputation.

West Midlands Police today confirmed it was arson and they are investigating.