Ballroom blaze

A derelict old manor house was the scene of a major fire yesterday. Tunstall Court, in Ward Jackson Park, Hartlepool caught fire and took over 40 firefighters to put out.

The initial response from fire teams was not enough to deal with the blaze and nine additional crews were called in from other stations.

Unfortunately this isn't the first time the old building has been set on fire and yet again arsonists are to blame for this latest incident. This time they seem to have been successful as the roof collapsed and the walls have become unsafe. Demolition is now inevitable.

Dave Turton, Cleveland Fire Brigade's district manager for Hartlepool, commented:

The cause of the fire is being investigated, but this building has been targeted in the past by arsonists and that is the likely cause.

There were potentially seven seats of fire inside the ballroom, which was piled high with rubbish, and was well alight when we arrived.

The ballroom roof collapsed and the walls are structurally unsafe. We would recommend a structural survey be carried out on the rest of the building.

Source: Peterlee Today