TEACHERS were today cleaning up after a second arson attack at Bicester Community College in a year.

A science laboratory and toilet were set alight causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Headteacher Cynthia Bartlett is assessing the damage but believes the laboratory will be back in use in three to four weeks.

Last July the school was hit by another arson attack which caused £1.3m damage and destroyed nine classrooms.

Police are unable to say whether the two fires are connected. Mrs Bartlett is appealing to the community to help police track the culprits down.

She said: "The community will, I know, be supportive of the college and I hope that people will come forward with information which will help the police in their determination to prevent any further incidents of this kind in Bicester."

The headteacher added she hoped the culprits were caught for their own sake as much as the wider communities. "This is inevitable until you catch the people who are responsible. This is why we need the help of the community. People who may have information need to have the courage of their convictions to come forward and let the police have it. We must stop it. This sort of vandalism affects the community in general and may put lives at risk.

"We also need to make sure the people doing this receive the help they need."

The school will operate a business-as-usual approach when the students return on Tuesday after their Easter break.

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