A fire which caused £10,000 of damage to a community centre could have begun from a discarded cigarette according to an expert for the defence in an arson trial.

Nicholas Poole is accused of deliberately setting fire to a cupboard in the kitchen of the Mill End community centre in Church Lane, on Tuesday, April 3, 2008.

At St Albans Crown Court today Dr Roger Berrett a fire investigation expert with more than 20 years experience said, however, the blaze could have begun by accident.

Part time barman Poole admitted to police that he was the only one there for the last hour, a fact the prosecution say points to his guilt because their expert stated the fire had been going less than half-an-hour.

However, Dr Berrett also refuted the conclusion saying that the napkins in the cupboard could have smoldered for much longer before catching fire.

Prosecution expert Gordon Macmillan examined the site shortly after the fire and Dr Berrett disputed his claims that the fire was started deliberately by the 21-year-old and not caused by a cigarette.

Dr Berrett said: “The fact he [Mr Macmillan] found no evidence of smoking materials is not meaningful.

“If fires have started with a smoldering cigarette it is unusual to find it.

“In most instances it would be destroyed. To say there is no evidence of smoking materials there in meaningless.”

He added: “The napkins in the cupboard are made of cellulose which would be ignited by a flame, but lend themselves to smoldering.

“It could have been caused by a discarded cigarette or match.”

Poole, of Northdown Road, Chalfont St Peter denies arson.

The trial continues.