A junior school has been forced to close until Monday after a building in its ground was engulfed in flames.

North Borough Junior School in Maidstone had only reopened to some pupils this week because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Watch: Fire crews arrive at the fire in the grounds of North Borough Junior School

Fire crews arrived at around 5pm yesterday to find a caretaker's storeroom ablaze at the Peel Street site.

Head teacher, Jenny Chiverton said: “We are disappointed that we cannot continue to operate again as we had planned.

“Our staff had worked hard making arrangements for pupils to return in a safe way.

“We have been open for key workers' children throughout the lockdown and we were gradually reintroducing our Year 6 pupils.”

No children were at school but two cleaners and a staff manager were on site when the fire broke out. However, they weren't near the blaze, a Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson confirmed.

The storeroom is separate from the school but close to the main entrance.

It was therefore decided to close the school because children could not access it safely.

It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault in a battery charger, the Kent Fire and Rescue Service said.

Under government guidance, schools have reopened this week to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children. As a junior school, North Borough does not teach Reception or Year 1.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone