Huge fire erupts at Harrington School in Long Eaton

Fire crews from across the East Midlands are responding to a fire at a school in Derbyshire.

Emergency services were called to Harrington School in Long Eaton just after midday on Thursday (May 28).

It's believed that the fire started in the roof. All of the pupils and staff were evacuated and everyone is said to be safe.

Derbyshire fire crews were sent from Long Eaton, Ilkeston and Ascot Drive. Nottinghamshire crews included those from Arnold, Highfields, London Road and Stapleford stations and Leicestershire crews were sent from Loughborough and Shepshed.

ITV News Central's reporter Mark Kielesz-Levine is on the scene.

The school said on their website that they are "heartbroken" that their "beautiful, vibrant school is on fire."

They confirmed that nobody was injured and encouraged people to stay away while the fire service work to extinguish the building.

Smoke and flames can be seen from a distance, as far as Wollaton, as crews continue to extinguish the blaze.

The fire service are requesting that people stay away, stick to social distancing and do not gather to watch the fire.

Fire fighters from across the region continue to tackle the fire which has caused extensive damage to buildings and surrounding areas.

UPDATE: Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service say that no part of the building is salvageable and the school will need to be totally demolished and rebuilt.

The chief of the Fire and Rescue Service also told us that a couple of firefighters have now been taken to hospital after they sustained minor injuries whilst battling the blaze.

He added that the team do not believe, at this stage, that the fire was started intentionally.

Hundreds of parents and pupils have expressed how devastated they are by the fire.

Elizabeth Mann, a parent of a child at the school, has started a GoFundMe page to try and start raising funds to repair the school.