TEENAGERS living in an area once dubbed the arson capital of the UK have been shown how dangerous the effects of fire can be.

Cleveland Fire Brigade launched a Safety Awareness and Fire Education (Safe) course in an attempt to tackle rising incidents of arson and malicious calls.

Fifty young people have completed the six-week course, which aims to steer them away from a life of crime.

Almost 90 per cent of the 9,778 fires tackled by the brigade last year were malicious with the vast majority - more than 6,600 - the result of anti-social behaviour.

During the two-hour sessions, the groups of ten young people aged between 13 and 16, get to learn the hazards associated with fires.

The programme introduces them to a number of different aspects of the fire service, and increases their awareness of anti-social behaviour, hoax calls, arson and car crime.

Mike Greenwood, youth development co-ordinator, said: "Throughout the programme, individuals have the opportunity to work towards an accredited training award once all the modules have been completed successfully.

"A certificate and disk of the progress they have made throughout the six weeks is presented at the end."

During the course, all the pupils have the opportunity to wear fire kit and practise drills in the yard. They are shown different extinguishers and talk about the consequences of hoax calls and arson.

The brigade works with partnering agencies, such as Paralex, Connexions and West Middlesbrough Youth Inclusion Project, which nominate people for the course.

He said: "The groups we get are diverse. This week one of the groups completing the course are children with special needs from Kiltonthorpe School in Saltburn.

"The course aims to increase communication skills and increase self esteem in the people who attend. We teach them about working together as a team and having respect for yourself and for others."

Teesside has in the past been branded the arson capital of the UK, with empty properties on run-down estates proving prime targets for young arsonists.

Sergeant Noel Young, of the Arson Task Force, said: "The minority that are responsible for such behaviour on the streets can cause massive disruption and misery to the law-abiding majority.