A JEWISH place of worship has been set alight in the latest attack on a religious site by vandals.

Firefighters were called to the Hebrew congregation building, at Ayresome Green cemetery, Middlesbrough, at 7.45pm on Wednesday.

The building was damaged by smoke and heat.

Station officer Ron Carr, of Middlesbrough fire station, said it was the latest incident in a spate of vandalism.

"Vandals have been driving around the graveyard in stolen cars and setting fire to them," he said.

Mr Carr said that someone had forced their way in through the back doors to start the fire.

A police spokesman said that the blaze was being treated as arson.