A North East MP has condemned disorder in his constituency over the weekend after police were injured during the incident.

Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, praised police for their role in quelling disorder in Hemlington at 2.40am on Sunday (November 26), and described the perpetrators as "utter, depraved scum".

The incident resulted in several officers being injured as they responded to a fire on Earls Court Road.

Cleveland Police confirmed one officer suffered a serious hand injury and facial injuries, and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr Clarke said: "The disorder in Hemlington over the weekend was disgusting and shameful. My very best wishes go to the police officers who were injured. 

"It’s already in my diary to join our Police Commissioner Steve Turner Cleveland PCC on a ward walkabout there with officers in December and this underscores the importance of us all supporting law enforcement agencies against the scum - and they are utter, depraved scum - who commit this kind of offending.

"I am glad that arrests have been made and I hope serious jail sentences are handed down to the perpetrators.  

"The decent folk in Hemlington, who make up the vast majority of the ward, deserve so much better than to be terrorised by this thuggery."

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, while three other men and two women have also been arrested in connection with the incident.

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Both the Cleveland Fire Service and the North East Ambulance Service were also in attendance at the scene.

Uniformed police officers were conducting what were described as “reassurance patrols” in the area to put local people at ease today.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to speak to the officers in the area or they can pass information on to the force control room by dialling the 101 non-emergency number.