AN INVESTIGATION carried out by police and fire officers has concluded a fire at a Teesdale haulage yard this morning was not suspicious.

Dramatic images taken by firefighters captured the scale of the fire which destroyed vehicles and equipment this morning.

The three heavy goods vehicles and three trailers were completely burnt out, while two lorries and one trailer melted in the fire that caused damage to the John Dickinson Transport depot, near Barnard Castle.

Firefighters were called to the scene, on the Winston Road between Winson and Staindrop, at 1.51am on Monday and battled the blaze until 6.39am.

Paul Dickinson, son of business owner John Dickinson, described this morning's events as a "painful experience".

"Easter Sunday is like Christmas day and unfortunately all the vehicles were out in the yard," said Mr Dickinson, who lives at the depot along with his father.

"It was an unexpected fire and has caused us quite a few complications but they are all surmountable with a little bit of time."

It was thanks to a quick-thinking farmer two miles away that a sleeping Mr Dickinson was first alerted to the blaze outside.

"We were very fortunate one of our neighbours was lambing sheep and heard the first explosion," he added.

"He was immediately suspicious and heard another and came over and knocked to get me out of bed.

"Then it was a question of trying to rescue more vehicles and equipment because everything was so closely parked.

"We used a power hose ourselves until the fire brigade came and they were fantastic."

Crews from Barnard Castle and Darlington attended the yard where they called for more man power and water from a third engine at 2.20am.

They used two hose reel jets and a foam jet to put out the fire, which was under control by 6.30am.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) said crews left the scene ten minutes later.

A joint investigation with Durham Police took place today and concluded it was not suspicious, according to a CDDRS spokesperson.

Mr Dickinson, who got just two hours sleep owing to a lorry reigniting between about 5am and 6.30am, said the depot was fully monitored by cameras and he understood the fire had started as a result of an electrical fault on one of the vehicles.

The business has been unable to fulfill some jobs for customers due to the need for now damaged specialist equipment.

Mr Dickinson was hopeful the impact on business would otherwise be mitigated due to it being fully insured.