SECURITY guards are to patrol an estate because of fears that a child could die in arson attacks.

At the weekend, Cleveland Fire Brigade was called out four times to blazes believed to have been started by children in houses awaiting demolition in the Derwent Road area of Grangetown, near Middlesbrough.

Fire crews arrived to find between 30 and 40 children at the scene of one of the fires in Derwent Road.

Tony Churchill, station manager at Grangetown fire station, said: "We have had more calls to those houses than anywhere else in the Grangetown area over the past week.

"Each time we have to check there are no residents, squatters or children inside.

"What we would like to see are the houses made secure or demolished - and quickly. Boarding alone just isn't good enough because the kids can still get through it."

Coast and Country Housing, which own most of the affected properties, is increasing security on the estate.

Ronny Harris, the association's housing operations director, said: "Eight properties have been breached via the roofs and attempts made to set fire to them since the last two tenants moved out on Friday."

She said a security guard would be patrolling the area at night and community safety wardens would be monitoring it during the day.

"Demolition work should be starting on Friday, or even sooner," she said.

"We are just waiting for electricity and gas supplies to be cut off."

The Future Regeneration of Grangetown organisation has secured £65,000 funding from the Countryside Agency to create a green area once the demolition work has been completed.

This will include a garden area, a children's area and possibly a multi-sensory garden.

A Cleveland Police spokes-man said: "Empty property for demolition is an obvious magnet for youngsters with vandalism in mind - especially where entry is easy.

"Police patrols are constantly on the lookout for such problems, but parents can play a big part in preventing such behaviour by stressing to their children the dangers involved.

"They are the key players in preventing a tragedy occurring."