THESE are the never-before-seen pictures showing the devastating damage done to Fencedyke Primary after a fire ripped through it last week.

Firefighters fought for hours through the night to control the blaze - which we can reveal was started deliberately - but were unable to save the building which was more than 70 percent destroyed.

The Times was given access to the former primary school, which has stood in Cheviot Head for 34 years, in the days after the flames all but raised it to the ground.

Desks and cupboards once used by children have been reduced to ashes.

Rows of little chairs stacked neatly against a wall at the end of last term now lay wrecked and charcoalled with only their metal legs remaining - a poignant reminder of the extent of the damage.

Classrooms, once filled with excited youngsters now stand gutted by the ferocious fire which has left the local community shocked and upset.

The school, which opened in March 1979, was earmarked for demolition after closing down in June to make way for new super school Elderbank Primary.

But former pupils and local residents have still been left upset, with one telling the Times: “I know it was to be knocked down anyway, but I went to that school and have really fond memories of being there so it’s a shame to see it end this way. It’s sad.” The Times can reveal that police are investigating after it was discovered the blaze was started deliberately.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm that the fire at Fencedyke Primary School on Tuesday, September 9, is being investigated as wilful fire raising and investigations are continuing.” Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews from across the West of Scotland were drafted in to help control the blaze, which was reported through a 999 call by a member of the public, just after 9.20pm.

Initially two appliances were despatched from nearby Dreghorn Community Fire Station and first responders reached the scene within three minutes of leaving the station.

Relief crews were then sent throughout the night with firefighters from Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, Govan and Maryhill in Glasgow, Ardrossan in North Ayrshire and Johnstone in Renfrewshire involved as personnel were rotated.

Station Manager Scott Cunningham, the incident commander, said: “Our crews arrived to find a well-developed fire within the building and immediately requested an aerial rescue pump to bolster the resources at the scene.

“This was sent from Kilmarnock and around 15 firefighters worked throughout the night to tackle what was a substantial fire burning throughout the building.

“By sectorising the incident we were able to surround the flames and tackle them from both ground level and from height, with multiple high pressure water jets used to bring the fire under control.” Scottish Power and Scottish Gas personnel isolated supplies to the premises and building control officers from North Ayrshire Council were also operating at the scene.