TWO arsonists who blamed each other for starting a train fire which caused £860,000 damage are awaiting sentencing.

Joseph Eales and Gence Emek, who had a lighter in his hand, were seen surrounded by lit newspapers when the train pulled into West Wickham station.

Croydon Crown Court heard how the driver ran down the train with a fire extinguisher but the blaze was too fierce and had spread to the seats of the smoke-filled carriage.

Both men, who were 17 at the time, were found guilty of arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. Emek told the court he and a group of friends had been to London on August 12 last year for his birthday.

The resident of Chessington Way, West Wickham, said: "I got up and saw smoke rising from the two back seats, I saw Joseph with items in his hand.

"He was taking up seats and placing them on the fire."

Eales, of Fairleigh Avenue, Hayes, claimed it was Emek who lit the newspapers.

He said: "I heard the sound of a lighter clicking.

"I tried to stamp it out but it didn't work.

"The fire started to get worse.

"I took up the seat cushion I had been sitting on and covered up the fire."

Witness Andrew Taylor caught the 11.53pm train from Charing Cross and grabbed Emek once they got off the train.

Mr Taylor dialled 999 but let him go after Eales came back with a piece of wood.

In his summing-up, Judge Steven Waller said that both youths were squarely putting the blame on each other and added: "Each has attacked the character of the other."

He warned them: "You face a substantial sentence.

"This was a very serious offence."

The pair were remanded in custody to November 30 for reports to be prepared.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Malcolm McCulloch, of the British Transport Police, said: "It was extremely lucky that no-one else was in the carriage at the time and that the driver of the train was not injured.

"Given the voltage that is involved in running trains, combined with a fire, it was a very dangerous and reckless act that was denied by both defendants throughout the investigation and resulted in a court trial. Without doubt lives were placed at risk."