A teenager accused of setting fire to a school causing £3 million damage has walked free from court.

The 16-year-old was smiling broadly as he left Lewes Crown Court yesterday after being acquitted of torching Tideway School in Newhaven.

Following a week-long trial, a jury took just an hour to consider its verdict and clear him of arson and burglary.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had denied the charges and claimed he was framed by an older teenager.

During the trial, the court heard how firefighters spent hours battling the blaze, which burnt down the school hall.

The school was closed for two weeks following the fire, which broke out at about midnight on April 4.

The boy, who lives in Newhaven, was accused of breaking into the school to steal money.

The teenager and two other lads were said to have entered the school site through a gap in a fence.

The teenager was alleged to have made his way to the staff room in the dark while using a lighter as a torch to see his way.

One of the other boys claimed he saw the defendant set light to a bundle of papers.

The defendant was alleged to have stolen a can of Coke, some biscuits and a sachet of soup before running away.

He was accused of confessing to friends minutes later that he had caused the fire.

But the boy told the jury he had been set up by another youth, a 17-year-old who is awaiting trial for a different case of arson.

The older boy, who has been arrested ten times this year, including three times for arson offences, gave evidence via video link to the jury.

He claimed the defendant had asked him to take part in a burglary at the school but he refused.

The court heard the two boys had been in several fights.