Firebugs 'putting lives at risk'

At the same time, regeneration officials are urgently trying to deal with the problem of more than 100 houses standing empty - and open to vandals - on Middlesbrough's Whinney Banks council estate.

Fire crews have been called to a spate of malicious fires in several of the properties, which are awaiting demolition.

Sean O'Malley, an assistant divisional officer with Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "At this time of year there is an increase in calls - an identifiable trend - with the approach of the dark nights, which are used as cover.

"Those fires tie up resources which could be in demand somewhere else, while we are dealing with the situation in hand."

Mr O'Malley said the lives of crews were put at risk when firefighters entered a smoke- filled, vandalised house stripped of floor boards.

Station Officer Jeff Marwood, of Middlesbrough fire station, which is responsible for Whinney Banks, said: "All calls are treated with the same urgency and we never know what we will find or if there is anyone in the building.''

John Hutchinson, project coordinator for a multi-million pound revamp of central Whinney Banks, said: "There are many empty properties on the estate that are causing a lot of problems for residents. They're the target for vandals and other criminal activity, including arson attacks.

"That is why the demolition of the empty properties is such a key priority. One hundred and sixty four houses - most of them empty - are due to be demolished starting in late October.''

The redevelopment of Whinney Banks is a key project in a £52m West Middlesbrough New Deal for Communities programme, designed to breathe new life into the area.

Firefighters are also becoming concerned about arson attacks on the town's Pallister Park estate after putting out blazes in two adjoining houses in partially-empty Malling Walk, in four days. In the latest fire, at the weekend, flames threatened to spread to a house occupied by a family with young children.