A PUB is having to be demolished after being damaged in a mystery fire - the second Teesside public house to be engulfed in flames in three days.

The Netherfield public house, in Middlesbrough, was gutted in what Cleveland Police describe as a "suspicious'' blaze.

It took 25 fire fighters four hours to bring the fire under control.

Assistant divisional officer Mike Picknett said: "The cause of the fire has not been established and we are investigating.''

Firefighters from Grangetown, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Thornaby rushed to the scene.

They arrived to find the ground floor of the premises, which only reopened on Tuesday following an extensive revamp, "well alight'' and they had to break into the building.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus fought their way into a first floor flat above the bar area to find it empty and no one trapped.

Mr Picknett said no link had been made between yesterday's blaze on Fulbeck Road, Middlesbrough, and two arson attacks on the nearby Poverina pub, at Normanby.

Structural damage to The Netherfield, making the pub unsafe, hampered police and fire service investigations.

Firefighters were called out twice on Monday to the Poverina, to blazes in the boiler room and first floor bar.

The fires caused extensive damage to the function room and kitchen.

Police say both fires were started deliberately and want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the early hours of Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 302626.