Boys face $186,000 bill for centre fire

Two 14-year-old boys who started a fire that destroyed a Christchurch sports centre last year face going halves in the $186,305.70 bill for the damage they caused.

In the Christchurch Youth Court yesterday, the pair admitted the arson that gutted the Papanui building which housed Court 'N' Bowled.

They cannot be named because of their age and were remanded by Judge Stephen O'Driscoll to a family group conference.

But their cases may be remanded to the district court for sentencing, opening the way for them to face the same penalties as adult offenders.