An arson attack which destroyed a seafront shelter in Redcar cost the local council more than £46,000 to repair.

A document signing off the spending by Redcar and Cleveland Council revealed the estimate for the work, which involved stripping out damaged wood and replacing structural posts, screens, frames and glass, as well as painting and staining trims.

It said the repair had been delayed while the appropriate bespoke materials were sourced and referred to a “significant increase” in the cost.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Fire crews at the scene of the shelter blaze on Redcar sea front

Two boys, aged 12 and 14, were identified by police as being responsible for the fire, last October, interviewed and referred to the local youth offending team.

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Arsonists had previously targeted the wooden seafront shelters, which were erected in 2013, in attacks in 2015 and 2016, causing significant damage.

In November the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed how toilets at the nearby Redcar Beacon – also known as the vertical pier – were closed off after a fire in a cubicle with a woman subsequently being arrested by police on suspicion of arson.

Meanwhile, last summer concern over a series of anti-social behaviour incidents led Cleveland Police to put in place an order for a period intended to disperse large groups of youth congregating in the seafront/town centre area.

The council papers said while there was CCTV on the seafront, it had not been able to prevent fires and vandalism to the seafront shelters, of which there are four in total, and often  – although not in this instance – the perpetrators could not be identified.

It said the shelters were well used by residents and visitors, and repairs and refurbishment were required to ensure they could be retained for future use.