POLICE are looking for a teenager who was seen climbing over the wall of a former Newport pub, moments before it was deliberately set on fire.

Firefighters were called to a fire at The Corporation Hotel, known as the Corpa on Corporation Road at around 2pm on Thursday after passers-by saw smoke coming from the top floor.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire.

Officers have released a description of a 16-year-old white man who was seen climbing over the wall at the back of the building at 1.50pm.

The teenager is five foot two inches tall, of medium build, with short dark hair and was wearing a grey tracksuit with a hood.

He was then seen heading down Cromwell Road on to Corporation Road at 2pm.

The former pub was bought two weeks ago and plans were submitted to Newport city council to convert the three-storey building into 19 flats.

Lliswerry councillor Ken Critchley said owners or developers of empty properties are now having to spend a lot of money trying to keep the buildings secure.

He said there has been an increasing trend for youngsters to get involved in damaging property.

Cllr Critchley referred to a long list of buildings which have recently been damaged by fire in Newport.

He said this is now beginning to be a concern as it is a way five to ten percent of youngsters seem to be expressing themselves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.