TWO young boys have admitted starting a fire which caused £7 million worth of damage to a Blackpool school.
The boys, brothers aged 10 and 12, pleaded guilty to arson. The 12-year-old, who lives in Blackpool and the 10-year-old, who lives in Preston, also admitted burgling Devonshire Road Junior School, which burnt down on August 23.
The boys were bailed by Blackpool Youth Co
urt, which heard that the ongoing bill for teaching pupils who had lost their school had reached more than £1 million.
Prosecutor, Suzanne Saunders, told the court: "The cost of restoring the listed building school to its original Victorian state would be £7 million."
Demolishing and rebuilding the school would cost £4 to 5 million, she added. Since the blaze, pupils have been relocated to another school which is scheduled for demolition.
The defendants have no previous convictions.
Defence lawyer, Hugh Pond, said: "My clients have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity."
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