A COMMUNITY is being urged to "shop" arsonists to the police and fire service.

About 248 arson attacks were carried out in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, last year - most of the incidents involving vehicles.

More than 80 per cent of Cleveland Fire Brigade's call-outs are to deliberate fires, and 999 bosses want to encourage residents to identify the culprits.

Teesside's Arson Task Force has 5,000 leaflets for circulation across Teesside, explaining how anonymous callers can help to identify the arsonists.

Firefighters from Coulby Newham fire station are targeting the Hemlington area by putting a leaflet through every letter box.

Posters will be displayed in community centres and public buildings.

The task force has joined with police and Middlesbrough Council street wardens to identify deliberate fire setters in the Hemlington area as part of a brigade-wide Crimestoppers partnership initiative launched in April.

The combined campaign is concentrating on Hemlington in a pilot project to catch the culprits and reduce arson attacks.

Arson Task Force officer Rebecca Barratt said: "The Arson Task Force has stepped up the campaign to fight fire raisers in an arson alert aimed at involving members of the community in identifying arsonists.

"The Cleveland Fire Brigade area is still classed as the arson capital of the UK. Arsonists caused 11,453 fires in the brigade area last year, the majority of them involving vehicles and rubbish."

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, which could lead to a cash reward.