PUPILS sitting their crucial GCSE exams were forced to evacuate their school when fire broke out in a chemicals cupboard.

Teenagers waited outside in silence while fire crews tackled a blaze in the science block at Hamble Community Sports College.

Hazardous material experts rushed to the scene after it became clear where the fire had started.

But even though the team was stood down shortly after arriving, hundreds of students still had to leave their classes as a precaution.

Last night fire investigators were still probing the cause of the fire, which broke out at around 2pm.

The school, which has more than 1,000 students aged 11 to 16, closed early as fire crews from Hightown and Hamble ventilated the affected building.

A parent who contacted the Daily Echo said GCSE students were interrupted in the middle of their exams, but were later allowed back to finish.

Police attended the scene but are understood not to be treating the incident as suspicious.

It is not known how much damage the fire caused or how it started.

The incident comes just weeks after an arson attack at the Satchell Lane-based school. A pupil was arrested after the blaze in the school’s Durban block in April and has been bailed until later this year.

There is no suggestion the two fires are linked.

No one was available for comment when the Daily Echo tried to contact the school yesterday.