SEVEN young people yesterday denied an arson attack on a North-East community centre.

Three girls and four boys, aged from 12 to 17, appeared before Darlington Youth Court facing a joint charge of setting fire to Skerne Park Community Centre, in Darlington.

The fire, which got into the roof space of the building, causing £9,000-worth of damage, was started between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Tuesday, March 23.

Darlington magistrates accepted jurisdiction of the case and each of the youngsters, all from the town, entered a not guilty plea.

The case was adjourned until June 11. The defendants were granted conditional bail.

The conditions are to reside at their home addresses, not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and not to go near the community centre, its car park or surrounding fields.

One of the 17-year-olds involved in the case also pleaded not guilty to a joint charge of taking a scooter without consent earlier this month. Proceedings were adjourned to the same date.

The boy also admitted breaching a referral order by failing to attend appointments. The magistrates adjourned these proceedings until Friday next week.