ALMOST 60 teenagers were evacuated from their cells at Wetherby Young Offenders' Institution early today after a suspected arson attack.

The Benbow Unit, a two-storey accommodation block, was badly damaged by the blaze which broke out in a cell shortly after 1am and then spread to the roof.

Governor Ian Blakeman praised the bravery of his officers, who went into the smoke-filled building to evacuate 57 "trainees" safely from their cells.

He said the trainees, aged between 15 and 17, had remained calm and obeyed officers' instructions to go to a holding area, and no one was injured.

The trainees - some of whom were on remand awaiting trial while others were convicted of offences - spent the rest of the night in cells elsewhere in the institution, which has a 360 capacity.

He said about 40 would be transferred today to other offenders' institutions around the region.

Firefighters from stations including Tadcaster and Wetherby used four hose reel jets and a hydraulic platform to bring the blaze under control by just after 3am.

Mr Blakeman said the worst damage had been caused to the roof, part of which had fallen in. It was not yet known whether the building could be repaired, nor what the bill would be.

He said an investigation would be held into the causes of the incident.

*West Yorkshire police said today that a 16-year-old male had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and was being questioned today at Chapeltown police station, in Leeds.

Updated: 12:20 Saturday, September 06, 2003