CHILDREN are suspected of starting a fire that gutted a derelict pub.

Fire broke out at the empty Dog and Gun pub, in Front Street, Great Lumley, at about 9.30pm on Monday and quickly spread through the building.

Five days ago, fire crews asked for the building to be boarded up following a blaze on Thursday, which was itself the latest in a series of fires at the site.

No one was injured in the latest incident, but fire officers are concerned the spate of fires is putting lives at risk, not just at the pub but elsewhere in the brigade area.

On Monday, four crews were needed to deal with the blaze and some crews were on the scene for an hour.

Yesterday, members of the arson task force returned to the scene and confirmed that the fire had been started deliberately.

The task force is now looking into what can be done to secure the building and ensure there are no further incidents.

Divisional officer Dave Turnbull said: "We are trying to identify the perpetrators and also to raise awareness among local teenagers about the dangers of arson.

"Arson does carry a life sentence in prison and it does take fire engines away from other incidents such as house fires."