A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a pub was left badly damaged.

Firefighters were called to The Blacksmith’s Arms, in Stockton Street, Hartlepool, at about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

An upstairs flat was badly damaged and initial reports suggested that someone was living there, but no one was found.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious, and are trying to determine whether the pub was open at the time of the blaze, because there were no staff or customers in the vicinity.

Watch manager Colin Robinson, of Stranton Fire Station, said: “The fire was confined to one upstairs sitting room. It was well alight, enough to destroy the room.

“The initial report from two men stood outside was that there was somebody who does lodge in the pub. We put the appropriate search teams in but nobody was found.

“The whole place was smoke logged.

“There were no bar staff or landlord. The front door was open, the lights were on, music was on, the television was on, but it was vacant.”

Yesterday, the pub remained sealed off as police carried out an examination of the premises.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police confirmed that a 35-year-old man has been arrested.

Witnesses to the blaze are asked to contact Detective Constable Mick Matthews, of Hartlepool CID, on 01642-302126.