A man was due to be questioned this afternoon following a fire at a house.

It took 19 firefighters more than an hour to bring the blaze at the house in Marsh House Avenue, Billingham under control on Tuesday night.

The fire completely destroyed the three-bedroomed semi.

Police officers were called to the house shortly before the fire following reports of a dispute. The householder was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton where he was treated for superficial cuts.

Firefighters were then called to the house to deal with the fire which was threatening to spread next-door.

No-one was injured in the fire and the man was discharged form hospital after treatment. A 31-year-old man was arrested at the scene of the fire just after 7pm on Tuesday and was expected to be interviewed by police yesterday afternoon.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to a disturbance at a house in Marsh House Avenue. A fire had been started and damage caused to property. "No-one was injured."