A 17-year-old girl is due before court tomorrow after a fire at a children's home.

She was arrested by police after the blaze at Framwellgate Moor Children's Home on Newton Drive in Durham.

Fire broke out just after midnight yesterday and the girl was rescued by firefighters.

An investigation carried out today by police and firemen concluded the fire was started deliberately.

District manager for Durham and Chester-le-Street Keith Wanley said there were two seats of fire.

One was a pillow that had been set alight and put in the corner of the room.

The other was smoke alarm that had been deliberately burned with a canister of gas lighter fuel.

Mr Wanley said: "We arrived quite quickly because the station is just around the corner from the home.

"It is just as well the fires did not have time to take hold because the girl could have overcome by smoke.

"She has been very lucky."

Two staff and three residents evacuated the property after the alarm was raised.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and broke down the door of the room.

The girl was led to safety and taken to University Hospital of North Durham suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

She has been charged with criminal damage.