Four children are taken to hospital after 'arson attack' injures six people as they slept at a Middlesbrough home

 Four children have been take to hospital after a suspected arson attack in Middlesborough.

Six people were injured during the house fire early this morning in Saltersgill while they were asleep.

They were rushed to James Cook University Hospital after paramedics passing by spotted the fire at around 5.45am.

Police are now investigating the fire for suspected arson.

Four children have been take to hospital after a suspected arson attack in Middlesborough

Six people were injured during the house fire early this morning in Saltersgill while they were asleep

Cleveland Police Detective Inspector Rick Mansell said: 'Officers remain in the area this morning and have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and patrols.

'The occupants of the property were asleep at the time of this incident and thanks to those who raised the alarm, the emergency services were quickly at the scene.

'We'd appeal to anyone who saw anything or has any dashcam or CCTV which may assist us to contact police.' 

North East Ambulance Service said: 'One of our ambulance crews came across a house fire in Woodville Avenue at 5.45am this morning.

'We dispatched a further four ambulance crews and an officer and transported six patients to James Cook Hospital.'