Deliberate wildfires set 'far too often'

A fire service has warned it is having to deal with deliberately started blazes "far too often" after crews spent the weekend fighting flames at a beauty spot.

Cleveland Fire Brigade tackled nine fires at Eston Hills on Teesside between 09:45 BST on Saturday and 23:00 on Sunday, while its control room handled about 230 related phone calls.

Although no-one was injured, a spokesperson said every fire set deliberately "pulls vital resources away from emergencies".

The brigade said it was worried the trend would continue in the months ahead.

"As the weather improves and more people head outdoors, deliberate fires particularly in areas such as Eston Hills remain a concern," the spokesperson added.

"These fires put lives at risk, destroy local wildlife habitats and damage a much-loved space used by families, walkers, and the wider community.

"Our crews respond to fires like this far too often. It's not only dangerous, but also disheartening."

Cleveland Police has appealed for any information or footage from the public which could help identify those responsible.

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