Fire breaks out at former Lupset school
A fire broke out at a former Wakefield school.
Emergency services were called to the former Waterton Junior and Infant School at 4pm this afternoon after a blaze engulfed part of the building.
Four fire engines and two police vans were visible from Waterton Road, which was blocked off.
Eyewitness Rachel Jackson said: “I was in the kitchen making tea with the door open and saw the smoke. Within moments, there were flames and the roof exploded. I just instantly called the fire brigade."
She described the scenes on her street as a “circus”.
The school closed in 2011 and merged with nearby Snapethorpe Primary School due to falling pupil numbers.
Plans to bulldoze the school were revealed last year in 2024.
Work was due to start in October last year and the building is currently in the process of being demolished.
But the discovery of a bat earlier this year delayed plans.
The site has been earmarked for 27 new homes.