THE owners of a parade of shops which burnt down in May say they are still waiting for the all-clear to demolish the charred ruins.

Fire destroyed the row of shops, wiping out several businesses, in Durham Lane, Eaglescliffe , in a blaze which is believed to have been started deliberately.

But, four months later, the blackened remains of the once-thriving business still stand.

Edward Yuill, managing director of theMowden Park Estate Company, in Hartlepool , which owns the parade of shops, said last night that the demolition contractors had been appointed, but the company was just waiting for the relevant permission from the service companies and the local authority before it could go ahead.

He would not be drawn on what would replace the row of shops and whether any plans had been drawn up for the new building, saying the company was working with loss adjusters.

Local councillors have been urging residents to support local businesses still picking up the pieces from the blaze.

Paul Burrell, of Eaglescliffe Pharmacy, has applied to Stockton Borough Council to work from a temporary cabin in the car park of the Eagle Pub, in Durham Lane.

Nearby Egglescliffe Community Centre escaped damage and it is operating as normal after the blaze, with gas services having been reconnected.

Eaglescliffe library also escaped serious damage and the Sainsburys Local shop reopened only a few days after the fire.

About 60 firefighters fought the blaze at its height. Flames destroyed a fish and chip shop, two takeaways, a hairdressing salon, pharmacy, launderette, tattoo parlour and a betting shop.

The fire is believed to have started in Figaro's pizza shop, which was destroyed.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said there was no update on the investigation into the fire.

Mr Yuill's grandfather built the shops, along with the neighbouring Orchard Estate, when housebuilder Yuill Homes was still owned by the family.