POLICE are to take action to prevent youths setting fire to derelict properties on a Darlington estate.

Empty houses on Firth Moor estate have been targeted by young arsonists over the past couple of weeks.

It has led to safety concerns among residents whose homes surround the derelict properties.

Last Sunday, a blaze started by youths ripped through six houses in Carlton Moor Crescent. A day later two derelict terraced houses were badly damaged on Forest Moor Road.

People still living on the estate believe it is only a matter of time before someone is killed or injured.

Keith Hauxwell, who lives in Eston Moor Crescent, said: "We are all house proud people but when something like this happens, it turns into a nightmare.

"It is very lucky that there were no occupied properties on the end of the block on Sunday because the fire spread so fast that lives would have been lost.

"Darlington council is penny pinching by putting up wooden boards, but that is not stopping the youths from getting in."

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones, of Darlington CID, said police had been approached by the council in a bid to come up with a solution to the problem.

Officers are now putting together an operation designed to drive the youths away from the houses.

"Children are obviously targeting empty houses, but there are people still living in the area who are concerned about the fire," said DCI Jones.

"It is also causing us concern and we will be giving it our full attention."

More than 200 houses have already been demolished on the Firth Moor estate and many more are waiting to be bulldozed.

A multi-million pound bid for funding has been submitted to the Government's Single Regeneration Budget in an effort to breathe new life into the estate.