POLICE are looking at the possibility that an arsonist could be responsible for at least two of three fires started in Darlington on Sunday.

Although the official cause of each fire has yet to be confirmed, detectives believe incidents at Darlington Town Hall in Feethams and a Social Services building in North Lodge, off Northgate were started deliberately and could be linked.

A third fire, at the Carmel Medical Centre on Nunnery Lane, is also under investigation by Darlington CID and officers from the County Darlington and Durham Fire and Rescue Service.

Nobody is believed to have been injured at any of the fires, which all broke out within four hours of each other, starting with the North Lodge blaze at 12.20am.

This started in guttering on the building and damaged a first-floor window as well as an internal Perspex panel.

The town hall fire was reported at 1.50am and started at a vent on the outside of the building, with smoke and water damage being caused to an inside room along with some damage to the telephone system.

The third call-out came at 3.55am to the doctor’s surgery off Carmel Road North which was well alight when fire crews attended.

When the flames were extinguished it was clear considerable damage had been caused to the roof.

Throughout today (Sunday, August 30) police have been making enquiries in the area seeking witnesses and conducting a forensic examination of each scene.

Det Chief Insp Mick Callan, of Darlington CID, said: “At this stage the cause of each fire has not been confirmed, but we believe the Town Hall and Northgate fires were started deliberately and may be linked.

“Over the next few days we will be making contact with the operators of any CCTV cameras which cover the areas to see if there is any relevant footage which could help our enquiries.

“If anyone who was in those streets in the early hours of Sunday morning happened to see or hear anything unusual we would encourage them to contact CID at Darlington.”

Darlington Borough Council leader Bill Dixon said that the damage caused to the Town Hall should not affect council services.

He said: “It isn’t extensive. It seems to be from the vent in the server rooms, but it has not affected the network or anything.

“The computer systems are working normally.”

He added: “There is an issue about what happened in North Lodge and obviously we will be guided by police and fire officers as to what happened there.”

Nobody was available for comment from Carmel Medical Centre as to what alternative arrangements patients will have to make while the fire damage is repaired.

Anybody who can help police with their investigations is asked to call officers on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.