Police probe blaze at Aberdeenshire primary school
Crews took five hours to tackle blaze at Kinellar Primary
The cause of a New Year's Day fire which damaged part of an Aberdeenshire primary school is being probed by police.
Nearly 30 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze at Kinellar Primary, in the Fintray Road area of Blackburn, which broke out just after 2am on Friday.
The fire damaged part of the building serving nursery and primary one classes.
The local authority said it would not affect teaching and confirmed that the school will re-open on Wednesday.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Sergeant Sandra Crighton, from the local community policing team, said: "Enquiries are at an early stage and we are working jointly with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of the fire.
"The loss of such a key building within the local community is distressing for a number of people, in particular the pupils, parents and staff of the school.
"Until the ongoing examinations of the building and scene are completed, we are keeping an open mind as to the cause, but I would still appeal to anyone who was in the area around the time the fire was discovered, or earlier that night, to come forward.''
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it sent around 28 crew members in five appliances, one water carrier and a welfare unit to the scene.
Nobody was in the building at the time, a spokeswoman said.
The firefighting operation was declared over around five hours after the incident began.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: "Part of the building serving nursery and primary one classes has been damaged. This will not affect teaching and the school will be made safe for re-opening on Wednesday 6 January.
"We thank the community for its support and further information will be issued directly to parents.''
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.