ARSONISTS set fire to part of the former home of Darlington Football Club last night, causing a "significant" amount of damage.

The West Stand of the derelict Feethams stadium, made almost entirely of wood, was set alight at about 8pm.

Firefighters fought the blaze at the stadium - which is soon to be demolished - for more than an hour. They immediately confirmed the fire been started deliberately.

Richy McArdle, fire watch manager, said: "The stand is badly damaged, and as it's made of wood, it's lucky it was not more serious."

Although structurally the stand remains intact, the damage to about half of the former seating area was said to be extensive. There are also known to be scores of boxes of old tickets stored underneath the stand.

Last night, speculation was fuelled as to whether the latest damage could force the demolition of Feethams sooner than planned.

Darlington Borough Council recently gave the owners of the site, Darlington Cricket Trust, notice that Feethams must be demolished as it posed a risk to public safety. Work was provisionally scheduled to begin before Easter.

The stadium has been subject to increasing arson attacks and vandalism since Darlington FC left for their new Neasham Road base in 2003.

Last night, the stadium - which was also wrecked by fire in 1960 - looked even more a shadow of its former self as firefighters swarmed, and flames lit up the night sky.

Mr McArdle said at the scene: "This has definitely been deliberately set on fire, so we are looking at arson. We got here in a matter of minutes, and found the fire was quite serious. It will take quite a while to dampen down."

Onlookers spoke of their dismay at yet another attack on Darlington FC's beloved former stadium.

Dave Bentley, groundsman at the neighbouring cricket club, used to conduct tours of the Feethams stadium. He said he was "very, very sad" at the night's events.

"I saw the smoke and flames and I thought the whole place had gone up. I could see how bad it was," he said.

"We see vandalism here all the time, and it's awful considering the history of this area.

"As sad as it is, and seeing what's happened tonight, maybe it is better they just get on with knocking the place down."