Two boys plotted to kill fellow pupils and teachers after becoming obsessed with a school shooting in the US, a court heard.

Prosecutors allege the pair « hero-worshipped » two students who killed 12 pupils and a teacher at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999. The boys, both 15, deny conspiracy to murder and other offences.

They allegedly planned the attack at a school in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The Columbine massacre was carried out by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who then committed suicide.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said: « Eighteen years after the Columbine massacre and nearly 4,500 miles away, two young teenagers in North Yorkshire became fascinated with Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. »

« Those two teenagers researched and discussed those killers and their interest in them turned to hero worship. »

He said this was the background that led the then 14-year-olds to plot their own attack at the school, which cannot be named.

« In that attack, they intended to shoot and kill other pupils and teachers against whom they held a grievance, » Mr Greaney said. « They also, like their heroes, intended to deploy explosives and researched bombing-making techniques to that end. » He said the boys – who cannot be identified because of their ages- were stopped before they could to put their plans into action.

Both defendants deny a joint charge of conspiracy to murder between 31 December 2016 and 29 October last year. They also deny a charge of intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence and a charge of encouraging or assisting an offence believing it would be committed.

One of the boys is also charged with one offence of the unlawful wounding of a teenage girl and another of aggravated burglary, which he denies.

The trial continues.