A fire which caused £10,000 damage to a community centre was started deliberately, a jury heard.

Part time bar man Nicholas Poole is on trial for arson after he was accused of setting fire to the kitchen of the Mill End community centre in Church Lane, on Tuesday, April 3, 2008.

Fire investigator Gordon Macmillan, who has 25 years' experience told St Albans Crown Court today the fire which started in a cupboard under the sink in the kitchen was started on purpose.

Poole, of Northdown Road, Chalfont St Peter, dialled 999 after the fire alarm went off about 5pm.

The 21-year-old told officers from Rickmansworth fire station he had been the only person in the building since that afternoon.

The crew were suspicious and specialist fire investigator Mr Macmillan was called in.

He questioned Poole at the scene and was immediately suspicious, the court heard.

Under prompting from Geoffrey Porter, prosecuting, Mr Macmillan said he received conflicting information from Poole.

He said: “I was concerned about the story I was hearing.

“He said he had been there on his own from about 4pm and had been in the garden reading the paper when he heard the fire alarm go off.”

Poole admitted being the only one there for an hour before the fire and investigations showed the fire had been going less than half an hour, said Mr Macmillan.

Poole said he thought the deep fat fryer had caught light, but the fire was found to come from a cupboard and had nothing to do with any equipment in the kitchen.

Mr Macmillan said: “It is a process of elimination to get to a probable cause.

“There was no gas or electricity or other ignition source, then you are left with the question of was there a deliberate ignition of some sort rather than accidental ignition?

“It is our belief in all probability a naked flame was used to light combustible materials inside the cupboard.”

Poole denies arson.

The trial continues.