Hartlepool fire: Cars burnt out on several streets

A black Vauxhall was damaged in one fire on Caledonian Road

A number of homes in Hartlepool were evacuated overnight due to suspected arson attacks on cars in the town.

Eight fires in Caledonian Road, Baden Street, Shrewsbury Street, Lansdowne Road, Osborne Road and Brinkburn Road were attended by emergency services.

Cleveland Police was alerted to a series of blazes at about 02:00 BST and has launched an investigation.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and is in custody, the force said.

"We were very lucky the houses did not catch alight," one witness told the BBC.

Residents said the flames were 15ft (4.5m) high

Cleveland Fire Brigade said the cars appeared to have been deliberately set on fire and it would be working with police to establish what had occurred.

The witness, who asked not to be identified, said he heard a "loud bang" and his family fled their house in Baden Street through the back door.

"After the bangs it was a case of people moving cars out the way, people living close to the car got their children out.

"It's a busy through road for pedestrians and cars so it's a surprise anyone would try this," he said.

The man praised neighbours who rushed to knock on doors and help evacuate those homes near the burning vehicles.

He said: "People were quite good, helping to get people up and out the homes or to get them to close windows due to all the smoke."

The resident has since been able to return home, but said local people were "genuinely worried" about further attacks.

The fires were reported in the early hours of Friday morning

Residents in nearby bungalows said they had "never seen anything like this", saying a Range Rover ablaze outside their homes had flames 15ft high (4.5m) high and was making loud bangs.

Keith Cahill, who also lives in the area, said he was woken by his daughter and saw flames coming through the bonnet of his car.

"When I was on the phone to the fire brigade they said there were other ones going off in the area," he said.

"By the time the police and fire brigade were here there was another four."

Student Ava Stoddart said she had seen cars entirely burnt through, with melted seats and windows blown out.

"It's ridiculous really to think that this is what our town has come to," she said.

Cleveland Police said it responded to fires on six streets, including Shrewsbury Street

Eight fire engines from Hartlepool, Headland, Billingham, Thornaby and Stockton were called into action to tackle the fires.

People were urged to avoid the areas affected while fire crews dealt with the various scenes.

In a statement, Cleveland Fire Brigade said it had worked to "keep residents as safe as possible".

It added: "We'd like to reassure residents that an investigation is under way."

Cleveland Police has asked anyone with information to contact the force or FireStoppers anonymously.