ABOUT 30 firefighters spent more than three hours tackling a blaze in a Victorian building.

Fire crews from across Teesside were called to the unoccupied house in Bishopton Road, Stockton, at 1.27am yesterday after reports of a fire in the roof.

The blaze is being treated as suspicious and arson investigation officers have inspected the property.

The building, on the junction of Bishopton Road and St Paul's Road, was formerly used as sheltered accommodation, but is believed to have been vacant since the summer.

No one was injured in the fire, which destroyed the roof and caused 70 per cent damage to the first floor, as well as minor damage to the ground floor.