About 70 firefighters tackled the fire for more than four hours

The youngsters even talked to the vicar as the fire swept through historic St Brannock's Church in Braunton, north Devon.

The fire, in July, caused damage valued at �500,000 and the church is not expected to re-open until next August.

Two 11-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy, all from north Devon, were each given a 12-month supervision order after they admitted arson at Exeter Crown Court.

Prosecutor Malcolm Galloway said vicar, the Reverend Roger Reeve, saw smoke rising from the building about 10 minutes after the three boys were seen looking through the windows of the unlocked church.

They watched the fire and photographs showed them talking to the Reverend Malcolm Galloway, prosecutor

He saw a "fierce fire" develop which was fought by up to 70 firefighters for about four-and-a-half hours.

The church roof, floor and walls were extensively damaged and 16 pews, a Bible and a banner depicting St Brannock were among artefacts destroyed.

Malcolm Galloway, prosecuting, said the blaze was started by the boys with a lighter in the church's creche area.

He said: "They watched the fire and photographs showed them talking to the Reverend."

Defence counsel Andrew Oldland, for one of the 11-year-olds, said the boy was "extremely sorry" and did not appreciate the consequences of what he had done.

Raise funds

Simon Laws, for the 13-year-old, said the youngster was "terrified" when he saw the fire.

Peter Ashman, for the second 11-year-old, said the boy had suffered nightmares about what happened.

The boy wanted to help the church raise funds to show how sorry he was.

Judge Graham Cottle said the boys had been saved from a custodial sentence by their age and lack of convictions and because they had no real understanding of the enormity of what they were doing.