TWO teenagers who set fire to a school, causing more than £130,000 of damage, escaped detention yesterday.

A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Teesside Crown Court charged with arson at West Park Primary School, Hartlepool, last October.

The 15-year-old admitted starting the fire in the bin store. The 16-year-old was found guilty of arson by a jury at the court earlier this month.

The court heard that the pair had gone into the school's bin store, next to the boiler room, and set fire to paper, which they put in a bin and then left.

Tim Roberts, prosecuting, said that firefighters had been put in danger because the gas and electricity supply in the boiler room was close to the blaze.

There was smoke damage to two classrooms, and the school had been closed between October and January.

Robin Denny, for the 16-year-old, said he was an intelligent young man who had not intended to cause any damage.

"He genuinely regrets and is remorseful about what he has done," he said.

Deborah Sherwin, for the 15-year-old, said he was an "ordinary decent lad" who was also "full of regret".

Judge David Byrant gave them both a 12-month supervision order. He said although most people convicted of arson go behind bars, it would be detrimental in this case. He said their behaviour was foolish, but agreed they had not intended to cause damage.

As part of the order they must undertake victim and offender mediation, 20 hours of unpaid work at a primary school.

They will also have to attend a course run by Cleveland Fire Brigade education services.

The judge ordered their parents to pay costs towards the case, but stressed it was "not inviting criticism for their parenting". The 15-year-old's parents were ordered to pay £100 costs, and the other family £500