TWO men were arrested following a break-in at a west Dorset school.

Dorset Police said that offenders entered an office at the Beaminster School at around 2.43pm on Friday.

Car keys and a wallet were stolen from a member of staff at the school.

Staff at the school managed to stop one of the offenders from leaving the scene but another person fled in the member of staff’s car.

Officers arrived at the school shortly before 3pm and made an arrest.

Police dogs and the police helicopter were then both called to assist the search for the other alleged offender. And officers from Beaminster, Bridport, Ilminster and Crewkerne searched the Mosterton and Misterton area for the man after he fled and later made another arrest.

Two men are now helping police with their inquiries. They are not from the local area.

A spokesperson for the Beaminster Neighbourhood Policing Team said no pupils were harmed during the incident.

The spokesperson said: “No school pupils were harmed during the incident. Beaminster Police will be working with the school to ensure that appropriate advice and assistance is given to pupils and staff.”

Police said that at around 3.16pm they located a vehicle, suspected to be the one stolen from the school, ablaze in a remote lane to the north of Mosterton and firefighters from Crewkerne attended to extinguish the car.

Police also said a vehicle, believed to have been stolen from the Avon and Somerset area and driven to the school, was recovered at the scene.

Headteacher Keith Hales thanked staff and students in a letter to parents and governors.

He said: “Thank you for your support and understanding following the incident that took place towards the end of the school day on Friday.

“Due to staff vigilance, the effective use of CCTV cameras and the swift action of the police, two people have been detained.

“I am extremely grateful to everyone involved for the prompt, safe and expedient manner in which the incident was dealt with.

"The professionalism of staff, conduct of students and rapid response from the police ensured that the actions of (alleged offenders) did not compromise the smooth running of the school.”

West Dorset District Councillor for Beaminster, Anthony Alford thanked the police for their quick response.

He said: “I think that it’s disturbing that this event happened.

“I think we need to thank the police for their rapid action.”