DEMOLITION of a derelict former school in Gainford, County Durham, has started after a suspicious fire made it unsafe.

A blaze broke out at the four-storey former St Peter's School, on Main Road, Gainford, on Saturday, March 5.

The school has been empty for almost 20 years.

It was built in 1899 initially as an orphanage and then became a residential school for about 100 pupils but closed in 1983.

In 1986 it became a nursing home but shut in 1998 and has not been used since.

In recent years the Victorian red brick building has become rundown and suffered vandalism, leading to calls from villagers for action to secure and redevelop the site.

The community has repeatedly called for it to be used as accommodation for older people but despite such a scheme already receiving planning consent it failed to come to fruition.

Last year plans were approved to demolish part of the building, turn others parts into apartments and build new houses on the site.

Do you have any old pictures of St Peter's School? Email newsdesk@nne.co.uk