A PORT school is stepping up security after its hero janitor came to the rescue to put out a deliberate blaze for the second time this summer.

Outdoor learning equipment was badly damaged at Newark Primary when vandals hanging about at night set a tyre alight in the grounds, close to the building.

As thick smoke and flames surrounded the school, dedicated Paul Fulton, who lives close by, raced to the scene.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the worst of the blaze before firefighters arrived.

But it was the second time in as many months that he has had to leap in to action.

Now he and the head teacher Lauren O'Hagan are warning that upgraded CCTV cameras have now been installed to catch anyone damaging property in the grounds.

Paul, 49, who has been the janitor at the school since it first opened 15 years ago, said: "I was out playing with my grandchildren in the garden when I saw the smoke in the school and I just ran.

"I met a former pupil and she told me she'd phoned the fire brigade.

"I turned round and my brother was behind me to help out.

"I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out.

"Luckily it was not the school building - it could have been so much worse.

"It had been quiet over the holidays but in June they set fire to our pitches.

"That time I had to use three fire extinguishers to get it out.

"You don't think in these situations, you just run to get it out."

Head teacher Lauren heaped praise on her janitor for going above and beyond the call of duty.

But she also sent out a stern warning that the school now has the ability to catch those responsible for acts of vandalism.

She said: "The hero in our school is our janitor.

"The kids adore Paul, everyone does.

"He goes above and beyond for us and I don't know what we would do without him.

"But as head teacher it worries me that he had to do this."

Up until now Newark Primary has very much had an open policy out of hours, with youngsters in the area able to use the grounds to play.

Mrs O'Hagan told the Tele: "We have great facilities with our pitches and our adventure trail and we want the community to get the use of it.

"We are very much part of a wonderful community and I do not want to shut the school at night, we want our gates to be open and to give young people somewhere to play safely.

"But if there continues to be a safety issue I would have to look at it again."

Paul added: "We are just saying to the youngsters, you can use the grounds but don't abuse it, because it ruins it for everyone."

It is understood those responsible for setting the tyre alight have been identified and the matter is being dealt with by police.

The school would like to thank members of the community for their support since the fire, including chaplain Reverend William Boyle of the Port Glasgow New Parish, who was on the scene on the night to help out.