A woman was treated by emergency service workers after a suspected arsonist set light to a North East property this week.

Cleveland Police have launched an appeal for information after a fire is believed to have been deliberately set at an address on Oxford Road in Hartlepool on Sunday (February 26).

Police received a report of the fire shortly before 1:20pm, and believe it was started by a lone male who approached the address on a red bike at 1.15pm.

A 40-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were inside the address at the time and the woman was treated at the scene by ambulance colleagues. 

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Police have the male riding the bike appeared to put something through the letterbox of the address with the fire starting a short time later.

The fire was also attended by the fire brigade and ambulance service.

Speaking today, a Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Police were called to a residential property on Oxford Road Hartlepool just before 1.20pm on Sunday 26th February.  

"Fire brigade colleagues attended and dealt with the blaze. It is believed to have been started by a lone male who approached the address on a red bike at 1.15pm.

"The male appeared to put something through the letterbox of the address with the fire starting a short time later.

"A 40-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were inside the address at the time and the woman was treated at the scene by ambulance colleagues."

Meanwhile, the property also sustained serious damage due to the blaze.

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Officers believe one person was filming near the scene and have appealed for this person as well as anyone with information/dashcam/doorbell or CCTV footage to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref SE23037503.

If you don’t want to speak to police you can pass information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111.

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