Two electricians have been sent for trial on charges of arson in connection with the burning down of the Fenice Opera House in Venice three years ago.

David Willey in Rome: The theatre was completely gutted

Eight other people - including the mayor of Venice - will stand trial on charges of negligence in connection with the blaze.

A judge who carried out an exhaustive investigation into the disaster at one of the world's most famous opera houses concluded it had been caused by arson.

Now two electricians who were re-wiring the theatre will stand trial for arson and eight city officials - including the mayor and the former director of the opera house - will answer charges of negligence in court.

The trial will begin in Venice at the end of May.

Listen to David Willey's report

The prosecution case will be that the electrical sub-contractors were facing penalties for delays in completing their work and decided to set fire to the theatre which was completely gutted during the night of 29 January, 1996.

The theatre was closed for renovation at the time.

Reconstruction

The major of Venice, Massimo Caccoaro, said city authorities had received no warning about the danger of fire during renovation work.

The theatre is due to re-open in 2001

More than $20m has been raised both by private contributions and from the Italian Government to re-build the Opera House exactly as it was.

But building work stopped a year ago after the construction company which was runner-up in the international tender, alleged that the contract had been awarded unjustly to a consortium led by Fiat, Italy's biggest private industrial group.