POLICE are looking for a gang of youths after a major fire ripped through a supermarket causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Firefighters managed to prevent the fire at Netto in Stanley from spreading out of control.

No-one was hurt in the fire on Tuesday evening, but part of the roof of the supermarket, which is close to the Louisa Centre sports complex off the town's main Front Street, was badly damaged.

Managers were also counting the cost of damaged stock in the butchery and bakery department yesterday.

The fire was started in large bins outside the supermarket shortly before 7pm. Eventually the blaze reached the roof which caught light.

Inspector Simon Orton, of Stanley police, said: "We are treating this as suspicious and want the public to come forward with any information. "This could have caused a lot of damage and their actions endangered life. We believe that youths seen in the area may have been responsible."

One firefighter at Stanley's High Handehold station said three pumps were immediately deployed which managed to prevent the fire from spreading out of control.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Stanley police on (01207) 232144.