THERE is growing concern that children are using a potentially lethal demolition zone as a playground.

Cleveland Fire Brigade revealed yesterday that they have recruited the help of the police and council wardens to try to keep youngsters out of derelict houses awaiting demolition in Middlesbrough.

This follows repeated 999 call-outs after youngsters started fires on the Whinney Banks estate. There were four blazes on Sunday, two of them within two hours of one another. A house in Hinton Avenue was almost gutted with the hall, stairway and first floor destroyed.

"It was quite a severe fire," said Stephen McCarten, a brigade station officer at Middlesbrough. "It was also tricky, with some of the floor boards missing.

"They can be very dangerous places, not only for staff, but for the kids who get in there and cause these fires.

"We are working with the police and street wardens to try to limit the number of occasions this happens.

"They have found a playground and, with it being the time of year, they have an obsession with flames.''

Jan Sinclair, director of West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust, said: "We've demolished as many empty properties on the estate as we can because we know they're targeted by vandals and subject to arson attacks.

"We've taken steps to minimise the risks in the remaining empty houses by installing security screens and disconnecting power supplies, but people must be aware of the dangers and stay away from the properties all together.

"Further demolitions are planned for the new year and, in the meantime, we're setting up a temporary base for our street wardens on the estate so that - together with the police - they can keep an even closer eye on the situation."

It was announced yesterday that a detailed planning application has been submitted to Middlesbrough Council for the redevelopment of the blighted estate.

An initial plan was drawn up for the area in April 2004 but has now been revised in response to the issues people raised - mainly to do with road safety and children's play areas.

Joan Ford, chairwoman of West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust, which is co-ordinating the £52m New Deal for Communities regeneration programme, said: "We're thrilled we've reached the planning application stage for this development and we're hoping that we'll have a decision around Christmas time.

"If the plans are approved, it will pave the way for the wholesale redevelopment of central Whinney Banks."

She said more than £50m would be spent on developing the area, with £42m from Bellway Homes North East.

Work to build new homes could start early next year.