TWO youths who set fire to a school, causing more than £1million of damage have been sentenced to two years and eight months detention.

The blaze at Darwen Moorland High School in July last year gutted the school hall and left 55 classrooms damaged.

The boys, a 15-year-old pupil and a 17-year-old former pupil, were questioned by police a year after the blaze, after the school caretaker heard playground talk about the fire.

Both boys, who can not be named for legal reasons, admitted arson when they appeared at Preston Crown Court.

A third youth who allegedly started the blaze by setting fire to a bin in the school hall, was questioned by police, but was not charged.

After the hearing, head teacher Chris Morris said: "The school is content to accept the court's verdict.

"Pupils have bounced back and moved on well from the incident.

"All the damaged facilities have been repaired and improved."

Mr Francis McEntee, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of July 14 the fire brigade were called to the school which was well ablaze and took some time to extinguish.

Had it not been for the fire taking place the day before the end of term the school would have been effectively brought to a halt.

The majority to the school was open for September but repairs were only completed in January this year.

Mr McEntee said a fingerprint was found but police could not trace it and it was a year before they got a breakthrough.

"When in a playground the caretaker was privy to conversations between boys talking about the fire," said Mr McEntee.

When interviewed the two made full admissions and said they had been out and about when the third youth asked them if they wanted to set fire to Moorland.

He said that the third youth set fire to a rubbish bin and pushed it near the curtains.

"Once the fire had been set they ran off. The three returned the following morning to see the aftermath," said Mr McEntee.

Mr Mark Stuart, defending, the 17 year old said: "He had too much to drink and too much time on his hands," said Mr Stuart. He and the co-defendant had tried to set fire to curtains with a lighter but failed. It was the third youth who set fire to the bin which lit the curtains."

Miss Amanda Johnson, defending the 15 year old, said he had been led astray by someone older Judge Heather Lloyd told the pair there could only be a custodial sentence. She told them:"It gives me no pleasure to see two young men in the dock at the Crown Court at Preston facing such a serious charge. I am sure you and your family are devastated by what happened."