A TEENAGER has admitted sparking a fire which caused a gas blast as he rooted around in the loft of a house looking for something to steal.

More than 80 people had to be evacuated and a 50m cordon was put in place after the explosion in Sheriff Street, Hartlepool, in August.

At the time, police believed the emergency – which left on person injured – was caused as a result of gas equipment being stolen from inside.

Luke Gofton, of Flint Walk, Hartlepool, admitted burglary and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered when he appeared in court yesterday.

The 19-year-old's barrister, Peter Makepeace, said he lit a piece of paper to help him see while in the loft, dropped it and could not put it out.

He said there was nothing in Gofton's past to suggest he was a dangerous firestarter and a psychiatric report might not be needed for the teenager.

No one was inside the property when the explosion happened, but a woman nearby was taken to hospital after being showered with broken glass.

Firefighters discovered the blaze – at about 1pm on August 5 – had taken control of the ground-floor and roof space of the end-terrace house.

The roof was severely damaged and the windows were blown out because of the force of the explosion. Gas engineers were called to cut the supply.

A second man, Michael Casey, 48, denied burglary and arson when he appeared in court via a video-link from Holme House Prison yesterday.

Mr Casey, of no fixed abode, will stand trial at Teesside Crown Court on November 15. The case is expected to last two-and-a-half days.