Three teenagers today denied burning down a church hall just before Christmas last year.

Marcus Allen, of Little Queen’s Road, Teddington, Anthony Blackford, of Cygnet Avenue, Feltham, and Jack Passmore, of Hensworth Road, Ashford, all 19, appeared at Kingston Crown Court today charged with arson.

The trio were arrested after St Mark’s Church Hall, in St Mark’s Road, Teddington, was gutted when fire ripped through it in the early hours of December 17 last year.

All three denied the charges of arson when they were put to them and will stand trial on February 21 next year.

They are also all accused of breaking into a sports equipment shed at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, also in St Mark’s Road, and stealing equipment on the same day.

Mr Allen and Mr Blackford also denied breaking into the garage of the caretaker of Collis School, in Fairfax Road, Teddington, a few minutes walk away, and stealing tools and alcohol worth £80.

They were not required to enter pleas concerning the alleged incident at Sacred Heart.

There will be a further hearing on November 25 when barristers representing the trio will attempt to get the charges concerning the alleged Sacred Heart break in dropped, while Mr Passmore may also see the charge against him relating to the Collis offence dismissed, the court heard.

The fire brigade received reports of the fire at the hall at about 5.30am on December 17. About 25 firefighters attended the scene and battled the blaze for more than an hour-and-a-half.

In the aftermath of the fire, St Mark’s vicar David Lund said it was “sad” the hall, which was used as the church before being converted into the hall 60 years ago, had gone. He said the Come and Play playgroup, based at the church, was also affected.

Jo Massie, who helps run the group, said: “Obviously we are devastated at the sad news of the fire.

“We had a massive storage room full of bought and donated toys and games that are now in ashes.”

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