TWO teenagers were allegedly jointly responsible for torching a school and burning it down, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard that the 15-year-old and his 16-year-old accomplice - who a judge has earlier ordered should not be named - caused damage to the tune of almost a quarter of a million pounds and then went back to watch the blaze as it was tackled by firefighters.

The 15-year-old, from Accrington, denies arson, while the 16-year-old, from Great Harwood, has pleaded guilty to the allegation. Both have admitted burgling the premises, the court was told.

John Wishart, prosecuting, said on 12 December, last year, damage worth £200,000 was caused at Moorhead High School, Accrington.

The 15-year-old denied setting fire to the property, but the Crown alleged he was there and played his part in it.

The two youths, it is alleged, were jointly responsible for the blaze which started as they set light to paper and which ultimately burned the school down.

Early that evening, a woman was looking out over the fields and saw smoke coming from the school.

The police and fire brigade were alerted. The fire service attended promptly but it took three hours to put out the flames.

The prosecution alleged it was not a case of the 16-year-old on his own starting the blaze, but the two schoolboys were "both in it together."

(Proceeding)