POLICE are investigating the cause of a blaze which wrecked a disused takeaway on Teesside.

Part of the ground floor of the former Rising Sun Chinese takeaway, in Middlesbrough's Upton Street, was destroyed in the fire, which was "well alight'' when fire crews arrived at the boarded-up premises, in the early hours of yesterday.

Steve Waggott, watch manager at Middlesbrough with Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "The main problem was we had this severe fire, but with the possibility of people in there, the lads had to push through the fire, heat and smoke to get to the living quarters. Thankfully, there was no one in there.''

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the cause of the fire was being investigated and that residents had reported a large rubbish fire in the alleyway behind the shop, which is up for sale, earlier in the night.