A teenager set fire to an aerosol can and launched it at a van causing almost £20,000 worth of damage.

Josh Smith and Michael Anderson were spotted "acting suspiciously" in an Arnold Clark forecourt in Dundee's Balfield Road.

A nearby resident saw them lighting an aerosol can and throwing at an Autoglass repair van parked nearby.

The van was quickly engulfed in flames causing damage valued at £19,500.

Anderson avoided a jail term over the inferno and a warrant was issued for Smith's arrest after he failed to turn up for court.

Fiscal depute Joanne Smith told Dundee Sheriff Court that Smith and Anderson were spotted in the car showroom compound around 10.50pm on February 27 last year.

She said: "A witness who resides close by saw two men inside the compound and heard noise coming from it.

"He saw them acting suspiciously and went to get his phone to call police.

"He continued to watch and saw one of them igniting something.

"The flame rapidly grew and police quickly arrived.

"The two men immediately fled the scene.

"An Autoglass van was quickly engulfed in flames.

"The men jumped over the wall and made good their escape despite officers giving chase.

"Smith was later detained and said the can had caught fire and they had thrown it.

"Anderson was subsequently detained and denied having a fascination with fire or lighting things."

Anderson, 19,  and Smith, 19, both of Dundee, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to a charge of culpable fire-raising committed on February 27 last year at the Arnold Clark branch in Dundee's Balfield Road.

Defence solicitor Ian Houston, for Anderson, said: "The CCTV evidence was quite clear that they were both involved."

Solicitor Nicola Brown, for Smith, said she could provide no explanation for his failure to turn up to court.

Sheriff John Rafferty issued Anderson an electronic tag for five months.

He said: "This is a serious incident that caused a serious amount of damage."

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Smith.