Local News

Police in Middlesbrough have arrested 35 people during violent disorder which took place yesterday in the town;

Two men have been charged in connection with cars being set alight in Hemlington at the weekend;

...and tests are taking place on the Saltburn Cliff Lift after it was severely damaged in a fire earlier this year.

Police in Middlesbrough have arrested 35 people during violent disorder which took place yesterday in the town.

Officers remained in the area last night dealing with some disorder, however officers say that the large numbers of violent crowds had now mostly dispersed.

Yesterday’s events resulted in significant damage to the Crown Court, the University and a number of properties in the Parliament Road area.

Cleveland Police has now arrested 55 people linked to violent disorder in Teesside. 

In addition to the 35 arrests in Middlesbrough so far today, the number of those arrested in connection with the disorder in Hartlepool last Wednesday now stands at 20.

Two men have been charged in connection with cars being set alight in Hemlington at the weekend.

The men, aged 34 and 36, were arrested on Saturday and taken into custody to be questioned.

They have since been charged with violent disorder, arson with intent to endanger life, arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and using behaviour with intent to cause fear.

The charges relate to three cars being smashed up and then set on fire on Fonteyn Court in Hemlington shortly after midnight on Saturday.

One of the cars was a marked police car.

Both men were remanded in custody until they appear at Teesside Magistrates Court today.

Tests are taking place on the Saltburn Cliff Lift after it was severely damaged in a fire earlier this year.

Saltburn's Victorian cliffside tramway suffered extensive damage on 15th January when a blaze broke out in the electrical plant room.

It was closed for winter repairs at the time and has not been able to reopen since.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has now said that trams are now being tested on the lift's tracks and "work to repair the fire damage is progressing well".

The building has now had a full electrical rewire and all glazing and joinery work has been completed.

The council says that they are doing everything they can to get the much-loved attraction back up and running as soon as possible.