INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into the cause of a fire that ripped through a plastics factory and caused thousands of pounds of damage.

The blaze, which started at 6.30pm on Saturday, devastated the Roto Plastics factory in Ryans Row, on the Longbeck Industrial Estate in Marske.

A patrolling policeman discovered the blaze and ten fire crews from Cleveland Fire Brigade were called to the scene, along with the emergency tender and an hydraulic platform. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the fire, which left the factory severely damaged.

Cleveland Police said no one was hurt in the blaze, which involved three propane cylinders