FIREFIGHTERS were called after youths set fire to a pile of schoolbooks.

A member of staff at Nova Hreod Academy called 999 when they spotted the blaze in a field near the secondary school.

When they arrived firefighters discovered the small fire had burned itself out. They left by 1.30pm.

Today is the final day of school for many Year 11 pupils, who have finished their GCSE exams.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service posted on social media: “Congratulations to Year 11s who are completing their exams this week. However, please do not set fire to all of your books.

“One engine from Stratton has just come away from an incident of that type when it could have been used in a real emergency elsewhere.”

It is not known whether those responsible for the fire were Nova Hreod pupils. In a statement the school said: “An incident occurred earlier today. It was not on school premises.” A member of school staff alerted the emergency services.