A MAN who set fire to a pub where scores of people were drinking was caught on security cameras as he lit his cigarette lighter.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Christopher Rodgers told emergency operators he planned to start fires in Newcastle's Times Square - and threatened to deliberately target doorways so people inside could not escape.

Police searched the area but Rodgers, who is today starting a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence, could not be found.

Soon after, the 26-year-old set fire to the nearby Zinc Bar.

With at least 80 people inside, Rodgers used his sheepskin coat, soaked in lighter fuel, to ignite a stack of chairs outside the venue's main entrance and beneath a balcony.

The fire, started on April 1, was quickly spotted by staff who used extinguishers to put out the flames.

Rodgers then threatened to turn himself into a human torch as police arrested him.

Rodgers, of Eastacres, Blaydon, Gateshead, admitted two charges of arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. A psychiatric report showed he had an unstable personality disorder.

The court heard he had been drinking huge amounts of alcohol around the time of the offences and taking drugs.

"This is a young man who has undoubtedly had acute emotional and mental problems for many years," said Jamie Adams, defending.