The roof of a church rectory in Stockton has been destroyed by fire this evening.

The interior of the building - opposite St Paul's Church, in Bishopton Road, Fairfield - was also badly damaged by collapsed ceilings. 

Three fire crews, two from Stockton and one from Thornaby, together with a hydraulic platform were called at 6.30pm and remained at the scene until 10.15pm.

No-one was in the rectory at the time and firefighters used two jets to extinguish the blaze. An investigation into how the fire began will start in the morning.