Fire breaks out at former social club

Image source, Terry Blackburn

Image caption, Eight appliances were dispatched to the blaze on Raby Road

An arson investigation is under way after a large fire damaged a former social club.

Firefighters were called to Hartlepool's disused Engineers Club building, in Raby Road, after the alarm was raised shortly before 19:30 BST on Tuesday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Cleveland Police appealed for witnesses and said the force was treating the fire as arson.

A spokesman said roads remained closed between Raby Road and Swainston Street to allow authorities to carry out investigations and make the area safe.

Image source, Terry Blackburn

Image caption, The fire broke out at the former Engineers Club in Hartlepool

On Tuesday evening, people living nearby were warned to close their windows and avoid the area as eight fire crews from across Teesside helped to tackle the blaze.

Cleveland Fire Brigade said the social club was derelict and nobody had been injured as a result of the fire.

Cleveland Police launched an appeal for information and dashcam footage, and a spokesman thanked residents for their patience.

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