A SPEED camera at an accident blackspot on the A66 was burnt out in an attack on Tuesday night.

The mobile camera, which is mounted on a trailer, is sited on either side of the dual carriageway close to the Long Newton turn off. It has been taken away for the damage to be assessed, but it could cost as much as £50,000 to replace.

Mick Bennett, of the Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership, slammed the vandals for attacking what he described as a vital road safety device.

He said: "This camera is recording just over 2,000 speeding offences a year, I accept that it is not a final solution, but it will be at least three years before the new flyover is open, and until then it is protecting that junction and saving lives."

The attack on Tuesday involved burning tyres placed around the base of the camera. A similar attack last Saturday night resulted in what Mr Bennett described as "cosmetic damage".

He added: "It is one thing disliking speed cameras, but causing £40,000-£50,000 of damage and putting people's lives at risk goes beyond the mark."

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call police on 01642 326326.

The attack comes at the same time as Cleveland being named as the worst area in the country for arson, according to latest figures.

Last year, the area had 9,778 fires, 90pc of which were stated deliberately. Police and the Fire Brigade say they are working in partnership in a bid to crack down on fire raisers.

Sgt Neil Young, the new police representative in the Arson Task Force, said the unit's emphasis would be on sharing information and intelligence to increase detection rates and reduce deliberate fires.

He said: "These figures have put Cleveland at the top of the league for arson. They are clearly a concern and we, as partners, are determined to break the cycle

More offices

THIRTEEN more office blocks are to be built on a £12m business park as a joint project between One North East and Darlington Borough Council.

The park is on the eastern edge of Darlington and two office blocks which could accommodate up to 1,000 workers were completed earlier this year but have not yet attracted an occupier.