FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a fire at a derelict building in a County Durham town on Tuesday. 

The former building, understood to have been a furtniture shop, in Kingsway at the junction at South Church Road in Bishop Auckland, was hit by the blaze. 

The building is next to the former CEF building.

The road remains closed until further notice. Durham police urged motorists to avoid the area and find an alternative route. 

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: "At approximately 9:20pm last night (December 7) our crews were alerted to a large fire at a derelict building in Kingsway, Bishop Auckland.

"Six appliances from Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Crook, Newton Aycliffe, Durham, Darlington, and our Ariel ladder platform (ALP) from Durham attended the incident.

"Our crews used cutting equipment to gain entry into the property and were able to extinguish the fire using three jets and the Ariel ladder platform. We handed over the incident to our colleges at Durham Constabulary and left the scene at 1am this morning.

Firefighters revisited at 4am to assess the scene.

"Fortunately no one was injured but the road remains closed until further notice."

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