A teenager started small fires at a care home where she was living, a court heard.

The 13-year-old girl, who had a history of behavioural problems, also spread food and washing-up liquid round rooms at the home, in a separate incident.

Durham Crown Court was told that the teenager had committed a relatively large number of offences, despite her young age, including setting a public seat on fire at a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro network.

In the latest incident, she was asked to hand over a lighter, but refused, and went to her room at the home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, where she set fire to her pyjamas and a carpet .

Staff were alerted by the fire alarm and found her sitting watching the flames.

The blaze caused £300 of damage.

Richard Cowen, prosecuting, said she and another girl were responsible for the food and washing-up liquid incident, covering walls, furniture and the floor of the home with anything they could acquire from the kitchen, including sauces and mayonnaise.

Mr Cowen said the girl was responsible for other incidents, not before the court, including placing towels over lit gas hobs.

The girl admitted charges of criminal damage and arson at a previous hearing.

Urging Judge Maurice Carr not to impose a lengthy sentence, Chris Baker, mitigating, said: "She is still at an age where she could mature and grow out of this pattern of behaviour."

But Judge Carr said: "She's clearly a young girl who needs to have boundaries imposed upon her to stem this sort of behaviour."

He imposed an 18-month detention and training order, which includes the first nine months in a custodial environment.

Judge Carr said he was "astounded" the girl was able to be in possession of a lighter at the home.