Bradford is the schools Arson capital of West Yorkshire, according to statistics compiled by fire service chiefs.

The unenviable title means that Bradford and district schools suffer the most malicious attacks from firebugs in the whole of the region.

It comes a day after a blaze swept through Carlton Bolling College, gutting 15 classrooms, a gym and a sports hall causing an estimated £1.5 million of damage.

And education chiefs have revealed that arson attacks on schools have caused a total loss of around £10 million in the past 10 years.

"The arson problem is quite worrying," said Assistant Divisional Officer David Gardiner, in charge of Bradford's Fire Investigation Team.

"School fires are a problem that is nationally recognised and it is something we are working hard to deal with."

The figures collected by West Yorkshire Fire Brigade paint a worrying picture of arson in Bradford.

In the first seven months of 1999 there were 11 arson attacks on schools in Bradford, compared with two in Calderdale, nine in Kirklees, five in Leeds and two in Wakefield.

The statistics over the previous three full years reveal the same trend with Bradford streets ahead in terms of arson attacks.

In 1998 there were nearly twice as many arson attacks on school buildings in Bradford than in Leeds.

The previous year, there were 25 deliberate fires started at schools in Bradford, compared with 14 in Leeds.

In 1996, Bradford suffered 27 blazes and Leeds just 18.

Proportionally, Bradford suffers even more as it does not house the most number of schools.

There are 301 schools in Bradford, 359 in Leeds, 219 in Kirklees, 139 in Calderdale, 189 in Wakefield.

ADO Gardiner said it was a similar picture for fires caused other than by arson with Bradford's schools suffering the worst record over the same four year period.

In the first seven months of 1999, there were 17 blazes at schools in Bradford compared with two in Calderdale, six in Kirklees, 10 in Leeds and three in Wakefield.

ADO Gardiner said schools were seen as ideal targets for arsonists as they stand empty for long periods of time.

"Schools are very vulnerable. There is usually no-one there after hours, over the weekend or during the long summer holidays.

"There are often areas which are concealed from view and there are usually lots of windows which people can smash to get in and start fires."

Bradford City Council's Assistant Director of Education, Roger Smith, said any arson attack on a school was devastating, no matter how extensive the damage.

He said that in the last decade, there had been a large number of incidents reported to the council for dealing with insurance claims.

The total loss was huge, he said.

"Over the past decade, there have been more than 100 incidents of arson and fire at schools in the district, representing a total loss approaching £10 million," said Dr Smith.

Arson had a terrible affect on schools and on their local community.

"Any incident of arson is extremely disruptive and no price can be put on that, but it is thanks to the sterling efforts of the fire service that in many cases the damage is not more extensive.

"The insurance obviously covers the cost of replacing the fabric of the building, but it can in no way cover the cost of the children's and teachers' work, which in most cases is irreplaceable."

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