Barn destroyed by boy's cigarette

A 13-year-old boy has been given a nine-month referral order after his discarded cigarette caused a blaze which destroyed a barn.

A youth court at Mold heard the boy went to the barn at Halkyn, Flintshire, to have a cigarette.

He admitted arson on a reckless basis, rather than deliberate.

The boy, from the Holywell area, was told he would not be going home from court if he was older and had previous convictions.

The court heard the boy noticed smoke as he left, and tried to tackle the blaze but it got out of hand and he fled without raising the alarm.

The barn was destroyed, along with 20 tonnes of straw and some machinery.

The blaze cost thousands of pounds worth of damage, the court heard.

Also ordering the boy to pay £60 costs, magistrates chairman Neville Phillips said: "It is your age and the fact that you have been a good lad thus far that has probably saved you from custody."