The boy admitted that he set the bus on fire with a box of fish.

A teenager has admitted causing a double-decker bus fire in Bradford city center in 2023.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to arson by reckless endangerment in youth court on November 25.

He admitted that he set fire to a box of Ribena and left it on the top floor of the bus.

The boy is due to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on December 23.

CCTV footage in court showed the bus caught fire on the top floor while there were still people on board.

Fazaila Kauser, the boy’s lawyer, said she accepted that the Ribena box “began to bubble” and “acknowledged that this is what caused the fire.”

“He didn’t realize it was that serious at the time,” she said.

The boy has a good character and has no previous convictions, the court heard.

Shamaila Quereshi, prosecuting, said the “significant damage” from the fire cost First Bus £128,500.

The fire also damaged a nearby bus stop, the court heard.

Magistrate Richard Quayle told the teenager the offense he admitted committing was so serious he would have to be sentenced at the crown court.

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