A fire that was deliberately started at a North East primary school on Wednesday (February 8) evening has been met with outrage and shock by the local community. 

Fire crews from Cleveland Fire Brigade attended Dormanstown Primary School in Redcar at around 7pm following reports of several fires that had been started behind the school building. 

One fire engine from Redcar Community Fire Station attended the scene to extinguish the fires, which firefighters are saying were started deliberately.

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When they attended the scene, fire crews were greeted with patches of smoke and flames on the field of the school. 

However, Cleveland Fire Brigade revealed that, worryingly, multiple fires were started whilst the weekly youth club at the Corus Club for children aged 7-14 was taking place.

A statement from the fire service said: "We would like to remind our communities that deliberate fires of this nature not only tie up our resources and could prevent us from attending life or death emergencies, but they also destroy our communities, land, wildlife and in this case places where school children play!

"These deliberate fire-setters need to be taught a lesson and we need your help to find them. 

"If you know who was responsible for these fires, please tell us via FireStoppers."

Following the news of the 'worrying' fires at the school, members of the community in Redcar were quick to take to social media and express their shock and surprise. 

One person said: "This is careless that people would set fire to near a school while a youth club is happening," while another added: "Something has to be done - this could have ended a lot worse."