POLICE have appealed for witnesses following an arson attack on a small part-time police station this morning.

Emergency services were alerted by a member of the public after a wheelie bin was set alight and pushed against the door of the entrance to the Pelton section office, in Front Street, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, at about 3am today (Wednesday, April 3).

A spokesman for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said, two appliances from High Handenhold attended the incident and were able to extinguish the flames before the blaze took hold.

There was no-one on the premises at the time and no-one was hurt.

But the fire caused damage to the public entrance, which will take about four weeks to repair.

Police say it is “business as usual” and they have urged members of the public to make themselves known at the premises' window if they need help.

Chester-le-Street Acting Neighbourhood Inspector Michael Richardson said: “We are currently following a number of lines of inquiry following a fire at the Pelton section office.

“The fire caused minor damage and it is very much business and usual for us and the community of Pelton and Chester-le-Street.

“This incident has in no way undermined our ability to respond to the public’s need and we will continue to deliver a high standard of service to the rural villages surrounding Chester-le-Street.”

A police spokesman said: “It will be about four weeks before the entrance door is operating again, but there will still be officers there as there would normally be.

“If members of the public could make themselves known by coming to the window an officer will see them.”

The section office is staffed regularly during the working day.

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.