FIRE chiefs have issued an urgent warning about the dangers of arson after it was revealed parts of the North-East are among the worst in the country for fire raising.

The Cleveland Fire Brigade area - one of the smallest in the country - comes second only to Merseyside in the arson league of shame, with Tyne and Wear fourth worst.

About 90 per cent of the 1,710 car fires in Cleveland last year were the result of arson, as well as the majority of fires in empty houses, schools and rubbish fires.

George Crooks, of Cleveland Fire Brigade, is part of a three-man arson investigation team based in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, made up of a firefighter, a police officer and a photographer.

He said: "Cleveland has metropolitan problems without being a metropolitan area.

"It is one of the smallest areas covered by a fire brigade, and yet it has problems like a big city."

His colleague, Detective Constable Graham Thompson, said: "We need to raise public awareness of this problem, which causes two deaths and costs the country at least £36.5m a week."

The team is piloting the Magpie scheme, which aims to remove rubbish and dumped cars, cutting down on the opportunities for arson.

Brenda Forster, chairman of Cleveland Fire Authority, said: "We must all join forces to share the problems of arson, share our resources in tackling the issue and raise public awareness of the consequences of deliberate fire-setting in the community.

"There is a need for everyone to accept ownership of this anti-social, degenerate problem which has a devastating effect on our lives."

Cleveland Fire Brigade held an arson seminar at its headquarters, where representatives from councils, police and neighbouring fire brigades heard about the problem.

Merseyside was the worst arson area, with 33.9 arsons per thousand people, Teesside second with 33.2, Greater Manchester third with 32.9, Tyne and Wear fourth with 31.3, and West Yorkshire fifth worst with 27.4.