A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who started a camp fire in Trowbridge bandstand was trying to keep warm, magistrates heard.

Police were called to the park bandstand by a CCTV operator, who saw a gang of youths sitting round a fire.

The 16-year-old Trowbridge boy admitted a charge of arson when he appeared at Trowbridge Youth Court on Friday.

Linda Cassidy, prosecuting, said officers were called to the park at 1am on January 12 where they found three teenagers sitting round a fire.

The teenagers admitted they had collected boxes from Tesco supermarket and then carted them to the park to make a fire.

The 16-year-old confessed to starting the fire and officers noted scorch marks on the bandstand floor.

Alex Daymond, prosecuting, said the arson was not at the serious end of the scale.

He said the estimates on the damage were unclear.

Magistrates ordered the teenager to pay £15 compen-sation in addition to a three-month community punishment order.