BOSSES are to receive professional advice on how to safeguard their businesses from fire-raisers.

Teesside tops the UK league table for the number of arson attacks in the area, which account for 86 per cent of all fires.

A total of 241 industrial buildings and offices were hit by fire last year and the number of arson attacks on businesses is rising, Cleveland Fire Brigade said yesterday.

The brigade is teaming up with Cleveland Police to give advice to employers across the area. The result will be a series of roadshows the next two months, set up by the public safety organisation Safe In Tees Valley.

The first half-day road show, in Redcar, will provide business owners with advice on fire and crime prevention and enable fire and police chiefs to look at ways to address the threat to industrial and commercial premises through intervention work.

Lol Craven, project co-ordinator for Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "Arson is a major problem within the brigade area. Fires in commercial and industrial premises increased by 12 per cent last year. This project seeks to address the problem.

"We are taking the brigade's community education vehicle to the roadshows and the police will attend with their crime prevention vehicle.

"All businesses within the area will be given fire prevention advice and assistance, including an audit of arson risks. Visits will then be made to businesses identified as being at risk. A follow-up visit will be made three months after to review progress."

Gerry McBride, crime prevention officer with Cleveland Police, said: "Fire and crime prevention go hand in hand.

"The fire brigade is looking at arson prevention and we are looking at crime prevention, where we can prevent someone getting through a rickety fence and get businesses to ensure their close circuit television is up to scratch and check their security lighting.''

The brigade is pioneering a six-week course to deter children, aged between ten and 16, from starting fires and making malicious hoax calls.