FIREFIGHTERS forced their way into flats in Darlington last night after arsonists started a blaze.

The fire happened early evening in Copley House, Fenby Avenue.

Fire service watch manager Kevin Thompson said he believed the blaze was started by youths. Mr Thompson said the arsonists set fire to the roof of a porch leading into the flats.

He said: "When we arrived, we were confronted by flames rolling along the roof of the porch.

"We were told that there were persons trapped so we forced our way into the flats."

Firefighters doused the fire before it spread to the three-storey block. No one was in the flats, which sustained smoke damage. The porch was badly burnt.

People living in the street said there had been a number of arson attacks in the area.

They said they had several meetings at which they had urged police and the council to install a security camera.