FIREFIGHTERS in Wellington have dealt with what was thought to be the latest in a spate of arson attacks on derelict buildings in the town.

Both pumps from the Wellington station were mobilised early on Saturday morning (October 14) after 999 calls were made about a fire on the site of the empty Tonedale Mills.

The crews found a skip was on fire on open ground at about 8.30 am.

They used a hose reel jet and a main jet to extinguish the blaze.

It was the latest fire at the site, where police and town and unitary councils have been pressing the owners to improve security measures.

Wellington’s neighbourhood policing team Sgt Jon O’Conner warned during the summer the former mill was in such a dangerous state that his officers would not enter it.

A meeting was held with the mill owners in late July where a number of enhanced security measures were suggested, including the use of patrolling guards, some with dogs.

In August, an arsonist also set fire to a derelict building in Beech Grove, where a digger was badly damaged.