FIRE has ripped through a squat used by homeless people on Teesside, triggering a police investigation.

Thirty firefighters fought the flames which tore through the roof of the two-storey back street warehouse, destroying half the building, late on Friday night.

The building, in Marsh Road, Middlesbrough, has been empty for a number of years and has no history of vandalism or arson.

The fire at the warehouse, which is close to the town's railway station, held up trains in both directions for an hour.

One possibility being explored by Teesside's arson investigation team is that the fire may have been lit by homeless people seeking warmth and then left unattended.

Station officer Colin Gil-christ said crews arrived at the scene to find the building well alight and with the roof ablaze most of the firefighting work was done from an hydraulic platform. He also said the fire needed further investigation.

No one was hurt in the blaze, but there was slight fire damage to two adjoining properties.

l Youths have been blamed for setting fire to an old workshop on Usworth Road, Hartlepool, at the weekend. Firefighters had to neutralise a gas cylinder at the scene and found a further 11 nearby.