Boy, 14, arrested over Billingham former library fire

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire destroyed a former library.

Crews from Cleveland fire service were called to Billingham’s old library, at the back of Billingham Health Centre, in Queensway, on Tuesday at about 18:20 BST.

A spokesperson for the service said everyone was accounted for but the derelict building had sustained “100% damage”.

Cleveland Police said a boy had been taken into custody and emergency services remained at the site carrying out investigations.

Eight fire engines from seven stations attended the scene.

Images from Tuesday showed the building well alight while fire crews worked to extinguish the flames.

In the aftermath, images show a building ravaged by the flames, with charred debris inside the property.