YOUTHS poured petrol through a classroom window at Tavistock College and set it alight, causing £5,000 worth of damage on Saturday evening. The maths classroom in the recently revamped wooden building, which is set apart from the main building, was targeted just before 8.30pm and two windows were smashed to gain entry. Fire teams were on the scene within minutes, after five teenagers were seen running away from the college but 25% of the building and its contents were severely damaged by fire and 50% smoke damaged. Students were relocated to other classrooms as work began this week to clean and refurbish the maths room where new carpets and blinds will have to be fitted. Principal Colin Eves said the incident was very frustrating, particularly when the college had worked hard to make sure facilities were in good condition and had invested highly in new ones: 'We could do more if we were not faced with the costs that arrive with vandalism. Thankfully, it does not happen very often but it is very inconvenient and takes time and money to put right. 'I would urge anyone who has information to come forward so we can minimise the chance of it happening again.' Mr Eves confirmed that none of the students' course work had been damaged in the incident. Tavistock Fire Station commander Tim Smith said a witness had spotted the culprits leaving the scene and called the fire brigade: 'We were able to deal with the fire quickly, but had we got there any later the entire building would have been destroyed. The fire brigade takes incidents of arson very seriously.'
