A teenager accused of setting a school on fire was "set up" by another youth obsessed with a gangland image and fascinated by fire, a court heard.

The 16-year-old denies arson and burglary at Tideway School, Newhaven, after a fire ripped through the school on April 4 causing damage costing millions of pounds and closing the school for two weeks.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending, told Lewes Crown Court the youth had been set up by a 17-year-old awaiting trial for a different case of arson.

The 17-year-old gave evidence by video-phone and Mr Lamb suggested he wanted to imitate and better other tearaway teenagers he knew and had told a girlfriend he wanted to burn down the school.

Mr Lamb said: "I suggest you are obsessed with a gangland style of image."

The 17-year-old has been arrested ten times this year, three times for arson offences. He is due to stand trial for one offence in October.

His mother said he had been at home on the night of the school fire.

John Fairhead, prosecuting, said a number of witnesses said the accused youth talked about burgling the school before the fire and confided in friends that he was responsible afterwards.

He said that rather than being set up by the older youth it was the opposite and he was "casting around trying to find another culprit."

The case continues.