The mother of a 21-year-old man accused of setting fire to Mill End community centre saw a man in charge of the bar take cash from the till the day before the fire, a court heard.

Margaret Poole, who had been the book keeper at the club in Church Lane, Mill End for 13 years took to the witness box at St Albans Crown Court, to defend her son Nicholas Poole, who faces an allegation of arson.

Mrs Poole described seeing Alan Scott, who was in charge of the bar, go “bright red” after she caught him taking a wad of cash from the till a day before a fire caused £10,000 damage to the kitchen, where the club's safe is housed.

Mrs Poole said that on Monday, April 2, 2008 she had been on the premises around lunch time following an audit of the club's ailing finances.

She said: “I took the paperwork back to the bar.

“Mr Scott was at the till and I saw him take some money out and close the till with his right hand.

“He reached in his back pocket and opened his wallet and picked up the notes and was putting them in his wallet.

“There were £20 notes in a fan and he was turning round to face me with his face down.

“He looked up and saw me and went bright red and beads of perspiration were on his forehead.”

Mrs Poole said she carried on as if nothing had happened and ten minutes later Mr Scott came in the office and asked if her son could come in an hour early the next day.

The following day Tuesday, April 3, part time barman Nicholas Poole arrived for work at 4pm, and dialled 999 an hour later after the fire alarm went off in the kitchen.

Mrs Poole had warned the three officers on the committee the club's finances were in disarray after she was left with £80 to pay a £12,000 debt, but was told “not to worry and pay what you can,” she said.

Mrs Poole told the court about the charity work carried out by her son, even while being tried for arson.

She said: “Nicholas has a big heart of gold. He would do anything for anyone.

“Even this week he will have done 15 hours voluntary work, organising 350 scouts for a hike around the Chiltern Hills.

“He will be out teaching children canoeing in a swimming pool.”

She added: “He is very trustworthy.”

Poole, of Northdown Road, Chalfont St Peter, denies arson. The trial continues.