A SCHOOLBOY arsonist flicked a lit cigarette end, sparking a major fire that caused an estimated £30,000 damage to a York supermarket, a court heard.

York Youth Court was told how the teenager had piled up wooden pallets and plastic bags against the back of the Co-op store, in Haxby, with two of his friends.

The resulting blaze almost destroyed the armour-plated double delivery doors to the building, as well as damaging windows and guttering.

More than £6,000-worth of food at the Ryedale Shopping Centre store was also ruined by smoke during the fire, in August last year.

York magistrates found the boy, who comes from the north side of York, guilty of arson.

Adjourning proceedings for a pre-sentence report, the presiding magistrate said the bench's decision was supported by evidence from a number of witnesses.

The court had heard statements from the members of a group of teenage girls who saw the boys cycling away from the fire.

The magistrate also said that a 15-year-old boy who gave evidence at the trial was credible. She said: "He replied confidently under cross-examination and was able to give clear details."

Vivienne Walsh, prosecuting, said the defendant was responsible for bringing about the fire in a reckless manner. She said: "All three boys were there, but the defendant flicked the cigarettes into the pallets."

The 15-year-old witness told the court he had approached the defendant a few days after the fire and asked if he was responsible.

The teenager laughed when asked, before admitting and detailing his involvement in the arson attack, during a 30-minute conversation.

In a statement read to the court, a 15-year-old girl said she heard the boys say the fire had "broke out" as they cycled past. She also identified the defendant as being among them.

Phil Brown, defending, argued that his client, who denied the charges, had been mistakenly identified.

The teenager was given bail on the condition he does not approach or interfere with prosecution witnesses.

He will be sentenced on May 28.

Updated: 11:55 Wednesday, May 08, 2002