RESIDENTS have called for a greater police presence in their neighbourhood after an abandoned house was set on fire for the third time.

Darlington police have said they will step up beat patrols in Ridsdale Street after youths are believed to have started the fire in the empty house on Monday afternoon.

Residents said the neighbourhood has suffered from gangs of youths on bikes.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "The kids have broken all the windows and we've called the police twice before about this.

"We need some more police patrols

"There are all the kids on bikes and they've got hats over their heads, they just disappear when the police arrive.

"They've set fire to a telegraph pole before.

"People are doing their best to make this a nice neighbourhood but they're ruining it."

Steve Donnelly, the fire brigade district manager, said he was working with the crime and disorder reduction partnership to educate youngsters about the dangers of starting fires.

He said: "It's not just the damage to the area, there are elderly people either side of the premises and it's unsettled and disturbed them.

"I just wish the people who are doing this could imagine if it was their grandparents.

"There's always the chance with a terraced house that the fire could have spread."

He said the fires also left the brigade vulnerable if there was another emergency in a different part of the town.

Acting Inspector Sue Robinson, from Darlington, said police had now taken action to board the house up properly.

She said: "The problem we were having is that nobody knows who owns the house and the youths were causing a persistent problem.

"The officers who attended the scene are working with the council to find the owner.

"To the best of my knowledge, this was the only time we've been called to the premises.

"We've now arranged for it be properly secured and the beat officer will be stepping up high visibility patrols in case some of the youngsters think the area is still vulnerable."