DUMPED household waste and shopping trollies set alight on a patch of grass has sparked a police investigation.

Firefighters were called after smoke and fire began "creeping towards" houses off Marton Grove Road and Lambton Road, in the Grove Hill area of Middlesbrough.

Cleveland Fire Brigade arrived on the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised at 11.15am on Wednesday morning.

They confirmed that bags of garden cuttings and wood had been set alight, which saw large bushes and a garden tree catch fire.

Anyone with information on the incident can contact Cleveland Police's PC Chris Swales, via non-emergency number 101.