A drive to reduce the thousands of fires started deliberately every year was launched yesterday.

Latest figures released by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service reveal that about two-thirds of all fires in the area are started maliciously.

In the past eight months, more than 730 property fires and more than 2,400 rubbish and grass fires have been started deliberately in the brigade area - many of which have put the lives of the public or fire crews at risk.

Yesterday, members of the fire service, Durham Police, editor of The Northern Echo Peter Barron and representatives of the district councils in County Durham, came together at Ramside Hall, near Durham City, to launch a county-wide pact to drive down the number of incidents of arson and deliberate fire-starting.

In what the Government believes to be the first project of its kind in the country, the joint Arson Reduction Strategy aims to co-ordinate a practical response to the problem, which is estimated to cost the county £9m every year.

Launching the strategy, fire, police and council leaders heard how arson can devastate communities.

One of the worst examples highlighted was when teenage arsonists caused £356,000 of damage at Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, in February last year, forcing teachers and pupils to move temporarily to an empty school in Darlington.

The strategy is designed to prevent arson rather than simply respond to the fires which have been started.

As well as a range of education programmes, it suggests a range of prevention projects in arson hotspots, such as periodic sweeps to clean up derelict buildings or clear abandoned cars, the identification of repeat offenders, arson awareness training for police officers, fire crews and community safety wardens and moves to make it easier for residents to highlight potential problems.

Brigade manager George Herbert said: "Traditionally, the fire and rescue service has dealt with the results of arson through responding to fire and identifying the cause of fires after the event.

"Due to recent changes in the law, we now have a welcome duty to tackle not only the results of arson but the anti-social and criminal behaviour that can often lead to acts of arson in the first place."

Chief Constable Paul Garvin, of Durham Police, said the strategy sets out a practical approach for his officers, fire crews and community safety partnerships to work together.

He said: "The strategy cements this important relationship and will help make a real difference to the environment and levels of crime throughout the entire County Durham and Darlington area."