THE man who pleaded guilty to setting fire to The Avenue Primary School in Warminster has been jailed for three and a half years.

Edward Beavis, 35, of no fixed address was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on October 26 after it was adjourned in order for the court to receive psychiatric reports.

Beavis had pleaded guilty to arson and criminal damage when he appeared before magistrates in Salisbury only days after the fire on January 4 this year.

The fire in January destroyed two classrooms at The Avenue and caused more than £200,000 of damage.

Pupils’ work was destroyed and Year 5 and 6 students - who are preparing for their SATs exams - were forced to miss around three days of lessons.

The Avenue turned their library and a training room into make shift class rooms and have been overwhelmed by the support of the community, with £725 being raised through a JustGiving page.