FIRE officers are calling on youngsters to stop lighting fires in empty buildings in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough before someone is seriously injured or killed.

The plea follows a number of incidents in which youngsters have started fires in boarded-up properties.

A house in King Street was the latest target for arsonists who started a rubbish fire in the bedroom of an empty three-storey property, causing extensive damage.

Grangetown fire station manager Tony Suggett said: "With the summer holidays approaching, cases of arson go through the roof, but the people starting the fires don't realise the danger they are putting themselves in.

"These are dangerous places that they are going into - they have stairs missing, holes in the floor and they are potential death traps. It is only a matter of time before someone gets trapped inside.

"However, these fires also create a risk for officers who have to go into these buildings in exactly the same conditions. At some fires we have handled, the youngsters have told us that someone was trapped, so we are putting firefighters' lives at risk."

The majority of call-outs received by Cleveland Fire Brigade are in response to arson attacks or false alarms.

Mr Suggett said: "If there are any children at the site of a fire, I take them to one side and try to educate them.

"I point out that while we are dealing with this incident, we are unable to deal with a fire that could be threatening the life of their family or friends.

"We really try to get it across that arsonists are putting people's lives in jeopardy and that arson is a criminal offence that can lead to a prosecution."