Boy, 13, arrested after arsonist torches Hanley building

Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy after an arson attack on a building. Staffordshire Police detained the youngster last night following a fire at the 'disused' Cater Choice cash-and-carry warehouse.

It is the second fire at Portland House - on Portland Street, in Hanley - in the past 13 months. Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were scrambled to the latest fire at just after 6.35pm last night.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to reports of a fire at a disused warehouse on Portland Street. Firefighters attended and extinguished the fire. A 13-year-old boy, from Stoke-on-Trent, has been arrested on suspicion of arson. He has been taken to custody and will be questioned by officers."

Police are appealing for witnesses following last night's blaze. Anyone with any information about the arson attack should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 576 of 15 May, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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