A WROUGHTON teen has admitted starting the fire that did half a million pounds-worth of damage to a historic cottage in the village.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named as he is under-18, appeared before Swindon Youth Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to a charge of arson with intent or otherwise being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

It is said he caused the fire that gutted Grade II listed Brook House, on The Pitchens in March. He was bailed to appear before Swindon Crown Court on November 1 for sentence.

At the height of the blaze, which started after 7.30pm on March 28, around 70 firefighters from four counties helped tackle the fire.

On the night of the fire, Station Manager Dave Geddes of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the effort involved in fighting the flames had been considerable: “Quite often thatch fires start internally. You’ve got internal firefighting, plus trying to put out the fire on the roof at the same time. They’re such complex fires you’re also trying to make sure they don’t spread any further.”

Detectives began investigating the incident as an arson attack.

In the week following the fire, Det Sgt Justin Downes of Swindon CID said: “Luckily nobody was injured in the fire, but this was a devastating blaze which has resulted in the occupants losing all their possessions and they have had to move out of the house.”