A HISTORIAN has lamented the neglect of a Teesside Victorian building and pub which has been burnt out and is due to be demolished.

Demolition is due to begin of The Earl of Stockton pub in Norton Road in Stockton.

The pub has been derelict for nearly two years and was targeted by arsonists on Monday.

Following the fire, which is being investigated by police, Stockton fire brigade station officer Ian Dunning warned owners of derelict buildings that plywood was not enough to keep out arsonists.

Bob Harbron, editor of the Norton Heritage local history periodical, criticised development companies and Stockton Borough Council for allowing buildings of note to become derelict.

The amateur historian said that the building was erected in 1880 and was originally called Grey Towers.

For many years it was used as a doctors' surgery. An important date in its history was 1925 when it was used as a focal point for the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Stockton to Darlington Railway, the world's first passenger rail line. Directors of rail companies across the UK stayed at the building at the invitation of the doctors.

Later, the surgery was converted to a hotel named The Viewlands.

This became a well-known hotel for emerging pop stars of the 1960s after various acts played at the former Fiesta club, which was nearby.

Singer Dusty Springfield is known to have stayed there.

Mr Harbron said: "It's a shame the building is going, but when they leave somewhere like that derelict they are asking for trouble."

Joseph Keller, whose Royal Estates property development company bought the premises two years ago, said: "We would have demolished the building two years ago if our hands weren't tied by red tape. We hope to develop 36 luxury flats on the site."

A spokesman for Stockton Borough Council said that permission had been granted to level the building but that permission on whether to allow the building of the flats will be decided in August.