A GIRL aged 12 and two boys aged 12 and 13 appeared in court yesterday charged with a £1m arson attack on a school.

The trio were granted conditional bail when they appeared at North Tyneside Youth Court.

The children were charged with arson following Sunday night's blaze at Burnside High School, in Wallsend, North Tyneside.

About a third of the school was destroyed in the blaze and the remainder of the single-storey building was severely damaged, despite the efforts of more than 40 firefighters.

The children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not enter pleas.

The 12-year-old boy was bailed on condition he stays at a special school in Scotland.

The other two were granted bail on condition they stay with their parents, and all three were told they must not contact witnesses or their co-accused.

The case was adjourned until March 11 at North Tyneside Youth Court.