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New Year's Day social club fire suspected as arson

Google The Cleadon and District Social Club. The building is built from brown brick and has a flat roof. The central section of the building is white and a sign advertises its name in silver lettering. It is based in the middle of a housing estate.Google
The Cleadon and District Social Club plans to reopen but some of its rooms will remain closed because of the damage

A fire which caused extensive damage to a social club on New Year's Day is believed to have been started deliberately.

The fire at Cleadon and District Social Club in South Shields, South Tyneside, started shortly before 03:00 GMT.

No-one was injured but the club, on Fulwell Avenue, was forced to close because of the damage.

Northumbria Police said an investigation into the cause of the blaze was now under way and it was being treated as "suspected arson".

In a message posted on social media the club said it would reopen its concert room, which it uses to host entertainment and bingo, on Friday.

However, it said it would "be a while" before the bar and games room would be up and running and its lounge remained closed.

"At present our sound system throughout the ground floor has been ruined," a representative of the club said.

"As soon as we can get this up and running we will also reopen the lounge."

Police are appeal for information about the fire.

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