AN EXPLOSION caused a fire at school in Folkestone this afternoon. The Channel School in Park Farm Road was evacuated after a small explosion caused a fire to break out on the roof of one of the buildings.

A class was having a religious education lesson in the room below but witnesses said that builders carrying out work on the roof banged on the windows to warn the children to get to safety.

Two pupils who heard the explosion said they saw smoke and set off the fire alarm. No children are believed to have been injured, although a builder was thought to have been hurt while getting down from the roof.

Seven pumps attended from Folkestone, Ashford, Dover, Hythe, and Canterbury.

A fire investigation team will be sent in to determine the cause of the blaze.

Kent Fire Brigade spokesman Lee Rose said: "Two classrooms were severely damaged by the fire. Another two were also damaged."