Three boys who were caught setting fire to bushes near a school ended up apologising and cleaning up their mess.

The boys aged 11, 12 and 13, agreed to do this after they were arrested for arson at a recreation ground.

Police noticed smoke pouring from the back of the ground and three boys running away.

They had been messing around with a deodorant can and a lighter. The flames damaged bushes and trees at the back of the school in Gardner Road, Fishergate. But instead of ending up being charged with the offence and getting a criminal record, they and the victim, the local authority Adur District Council which owns the land, agreed to take part in a community resolution.

The three boys met council representatives and apologised.

They also attended a workshop session on fire safety at Shoreham Fire Station, went to Fishersgate Recreation Ground to help Adur Watch, the council's community safety group, to prune and tidy up the area and wrote letters of apology including what they had learnt from their experience to the council and to their parents.

PC Anouska Duffy said: “I believe in this case the boys were messing about without fully understanding the consequences and potential outcomes of their actions.

“The boys have stated how sorry they are to have been involved in such a dangerous incident and understand what potentially could have happened to them and the community. I am hoping this process has had an impact on the boys as we have had no further dealings with them since.”