MIDDLESBROUGH BURGLARIES: Police said there had been three reported burglaries in the Grove Hill area of Middlesbrough between Saturday and Sunday (February 22 and 23).

An attempt was made to break into a wooden garage and in the other cases burglars gained entry to homes via ground floor windows, one during daylight and the other overnight.

Police said patrols were being increased and urged people to secure their homes.

BEDROOM FIRE: A bedroom has been badly damaged after a house fire in Carlton Street, Hartlepool.

Fire crews from Stranton Fire Station were called to Carlton Street, Hartlepool at about 11.15am on Saturday. The bedroom was gutted by fire and the rest of the first floor of the property was smoke damaged.

No-one was understood to have been injured in the blaze.