BURGLARS are believed to have set on fire the offices of a children's charity in a York street.

Stunned workers for the Children's Society were today counting the cost of the fires, which may have been smouldering for hours in the offices at George House, off Walmgate.

Fire crews from York and Acomb were alerted by neighbours early today.

North Yorkshire Fire Service Divisional Officer Steve Cluderay said a neighbour told them an alarm had been going off for some time at the offices and smoke was appearing at the windows.

"It's obviously been burning for some time before we got here," he said.

"There are multiple seats of fire in lots of different rooms, which signifies it's been some sort of intruder.

"Somebody has been through the desk drawers and left a few fires burning.

"Some of the rooms are quite badly damaged by fire. People are not going to be able to work in there today."

Mr Cluderay said firefighters had found a door unlocked and they thought the burglar had got in and out that way.

He said the fires had been blazing for so long that some of them had actually burned themselves out for lack of oxygen.

They had been prevented from spreading because internal doors were shut.

Scenes-of-crime officers from York police were investigating inside the building today.

The George House offices were home to several projects run by the Children's Society, which has its regional office in nearby Stamford House, in Piccadilly.

The projects include PACT, which helps children with disabilities, the Children's Resource Project, which is concerned with children's rights and the Remand Review Initiative, which supports young people on bail.

Around 30 people work at George House and arrived to find their offices damaged today.

Lucy Kirkbride, project leader at PACT, said: "We're all feeling shocked."

She said the charity would be looking for alternative premises.

Anyone who wants to contact any of the projects should telephone the Children's Society regional office on 01904 627866.