NEWPORT'S derelict art college was the scene of another fire last night.

Fire crews attended a small rubbish fire on the first floor of the building, in Clarence Place, Newport, at 8pm.

A hydraulic platform was used to search for people on the roof of the building after reports of people seen in the rafters.

But firefighters said they couldn't find anyone and had to stand down. Police called to the scene were unable to enter the art college to search for squatters as the building is considered hazardous.

It has been the scene of a number of serious blazes in the past few years, and there are now plans to turn the landmark building into flats.