A REGENERATION boss has hit out at fireraisers she says are putting lives at risk.

Cleveland firefighters have attended a spate of blazes started by vandals in empty houses waiting for demolition on Middlesbrough's Whinney Banks estate, which is at the centre of a multi-million pound revamp scheme.

The string of arsons culminated this week with the burning of a block of flats in the problem estate's Agecroft Gardens.

Jackie Heeney, local programme director with New Deals for Communities, the Government initiative to revive neighbourhoods, said: "This type of incident puts lives at risk and we are working with the police to keep a close eye on the area.''

Families on the estate have long endured a living nightmare as vandals, arsonists, drug dealers and addicts have targeted empty houses.

Mrs Heeney said: "In areas where residents have been strongly in favour of demolition, work has already started. More than 60 properties have already come down as part of the first phase of demolition.

"Work is now under way on the second phase, which will see a further 100 or so houses demolished in East Crescent, West Crescent, Bruce Avenue and Curran Avenue.

"Many of these houses were empty and boarded-up and were causing a real nuisance for residents in the area.

"New Deal for Communities is to work with English Churches Housing Association, which currently owns the flats in Agecroft Gardens, with a view to demolishing them and finding an alternative use for the site."

Regeneration of the estate would include the building of new homes, she said.

Mrs Heeney said: "A development partner, to work with residents and New Deals for Communities to redevelop the estate, will be chosen in May.