POLICE say a fire that badly damaged the roof of a chip shop was started deliberately.
The blaze broke out in a back yard at the Seaham Chippy, South Railway Street, Seaham, yesterday morning and quickly spread to the roof, causing structural damage to the back of the premises.
The fire was spotted by staff at a doctor's surgery opposite who raised the alarm.
Sergeant Neil Bickford said the fire was being treated as suspicious as it started in two wheelie bins shortly after 8am.
He added that there was a similar incident last October when three bins at the back of the shop were destroyed, but he could not say if the two were linked.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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