Arsonists have targeted buildings on an industrial estate for the eighth time in a month.
Fire crews were called to the Philadelphia Complex, Philadelphia, after firebugs torched a lorry trailer at Mobile Minis – a single-storey factory unit used to house portable cabins for rent.
The blaze spread to eight, 20metre by 5metre cabins, de
stroying the lorry trailer and four of the cabins.
The other four were left 40 per cent damaged by smoke, heat and fire.
Crews from North Moor and Rainton Bridge were called to battle the blaze and a water pump came from Washington station yesterday at about 1.35am.
Firefighters today said this is the eighth time they have been called to the industrial estate since December 1.
Police are investigating the scene and trawling through CCTV footage in a bid to find out who is behind the attacks.
A spokesman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue said: "An articulated lorry trailer was 100per cent damaged by fire, which then spread to eight portable cabins.
"We are treating this as a malicious fire and police are investigating it to try and identify who caused the incident.
"We don't know whether the place is being specifically targeted or whether it's just kids messing around there.
"A lot of the cabins are open so they may well have been drinking and smoking in there and set fire to it afterwards but we just don't know yet."
On December 30, a crew from Rainton Bridge station was called to the industrial estate after a security guard working there raised the alarm.
A fire had been started in an empty Portakabin on the estate.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 03456 043043.
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