POLICE are investigating an arson attack on a shop and flat less than 48 hours after an identical incident.

Fire officers were alerted to a blaze in Parliament Road, Middlesbrough, at 1am yesterday. Someone had broken in through a securely-padlocked door to set light to the empty first-floor flat.

Station Officer Ron Carr, said the fire could easily have spread to neighbouring houses.

"If we had arrived five minutes later that whole building would have been involved and the fire would have spread to the adjoining property."

He said the incident bore a striking similarity to an arson, in Princess Road, Middlesbrough, on Friday, in which an empty shop and flat were targeted.

"Both had substantial security and to force the bolts and padlocks couldn't have been easy," he said.

"It seems that someone had the specific intention to go and do this. Whoever it was, put the lives of the people in adjoining properties at risk."

Inspector Gary Gamesby, of Middlesbrough police, said: "We are investigating both fires. We have nothing in particular to link the two at the moment."