FIREFIGHTERS have been called to a fire on a deserted estate for the second time in two days.

The latest blaze, in an empty first floor flat in Scorton Court, on the Courts estate, Redcar, started yesterday morning and needed two crews from Redcar fire station to put it out.

It is thought that youngsters, who are being blamed for starting a series of fires on the estate, filled the empty flat with rubbish before setting it alight. The flat was 70 per cent smoke damaged.

On Tuesday, the crew was called to a fire at another property just along the road, which was badly damaged by fire, heat and smoke.

Station Officer Dave Firth said he believed youths were responsible for the fires and urged them to be more sensible.

"They are dicing with death and they could get themselves trapped in there. There is only one way out of there, because they are only making one way in. We will continue to send crews because we think there could be someone in there."

The estate is in the process of being emptied by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which plans to rehouse residents and demolish the estate.

Many of the residents have been moved to other parts of Redcar, although there are still a few left on the estate.

Most of the houses have been boarded up and have metal bars against the doors and the windows.