A DUSK blaze at a row of garages is being investigated.

Seven lock-ups were damaged in yesterday's fire at Thornaby. One garage was destroyed and two others were severely damaged. A car in a fourth garage was damaged by smoke. The garages are at the rear of Stranton Street.

Dave Hammond, fire station officer, said: "We are still investigating at the moment. It looks suspicious, although we have not come to a final conclusion as to whether it was deliberate.

"I am trying to contact the owner or person who rents the property to see when he was last there and whether he had been working in the property during the evening.'