A TEENAGER has admitted starting a fire which caused “substantial” damage to a west Suffolk school.

A TEENAGER has admitted starting a fire which caused “substantial” damage to a west Suffolk school.

The fire broke out at Thurston Community College near Bury St Edmunds just 10 minutes before the end of the school day on Monday.

The blaze began in one of the toilet blocks at the school.

Pupils and staff were evacuated from the building when the fire alarm went off.

Firefighters said the blaze started when a toilet roll ended up alight.

It is understood staff managed to quell the flames before the fire service arrived.

On Tuesday, police confirmed they had arrested a 15-year-old boy.

He was subsequently charged with a single count of arson recklessly endangering life and he appeared at Bury youth court yesterday morning, where the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted arson.

He was released on conditional bail until February 9, when he will be sentenced.

Magistrates asked for reports to be prepared in the case before they deliver their sentence.

When the crews from Bury and Ixworth arrived on Monday afternoon, they found the affected corridor of a single-storey building “heavily smoke logged”.

Shortly after the fire, the headteacher said “substantial damage” was caused to the toilet block, but that nobody had been hurt.

The blaze caused significant delays for pupils getting home.

Students voiced their thanks to the firefighters and described the person responsible as “idiotic”.