POLICE were investigating today after fire swept through a Merseyside school.

Three fire crews tackled the blaze at Park primary school, in Woodstock Road, Wallasey, which spread to three classrooms.

They were called to the scene at just after 8pm yesterday, after smoke and flames were seen coming from the single-storey building, which is currently being renovated.

The crews, from Birkenhead and Upton fire stations, used breathing apparatus and were supported by Merseyside fire service’s incident management unit and hazardous materials unit (HAZMAT) over fears they could be exposed to asbestos in the school.

Park primary’s 250 pupils are currently receiving lessons at nearby Poulton primary school.

Crew manager Leigh Povall, from Birkenhead fire station, said: “When we got to the school, we could see a fire within one classroom and it spread to another two classrooms.

“We knew there was a chance there could be asbestos in the building so we called in our HAZMAT unit, but we were told by the contractor it has all been removed.

“Merseyside police have been informed about the fire.”

Firefighters found what appeared to be a petrol container in one of the classrooms, but said, with the building full of construction materials, it was too early to speculate on whether it was used to start the fire.

Wirral Council’s environmental health team also attended.