Police have launched an arson investigation after a patch of land across from the Amazon warehouse in County Durham was set alight on Tuesday (July 12) evening. 

Emergency services were called to the Integra 61 site in Bowburn, Durham, at around 9.30pm after members of the public reported seeing black plumes of smoke coming from industrial land to the west of the Amazon site. 

On social media, members of the public expressed their concern at seeing the clouds of smoke, with one user saying: "I've just called the fire brigade about the fires over on the pit heaps, three in the last hour and the one that's burning now seems to be in a few places and spreading," while another simply added: "Is Amazon on fire?"

Read more: LIVE: Emergency services look into 'large-scale' fire near Amazon Durham site

Photos were also circulated online of the smoke filling the sky above Bowburn.

Several fire engines were in attendance at the incident within minutes of the first reports, and the fire was extinguished at around 10.05pm. 

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service haven't yet commented on the incident, but Durham Police have confirmed their attendance and provided an update. 

On Wednesday (July 13) morning, the police force confirmed that they arrived at the Integra 61 site, and are treating the fire as an arson incident. 

An investigation has been launched between the fire service and police, and these investigations remain ongoing.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said: "

"Police were called shortly before 9.30pm yesterday (July 12) to a fire at the Integra 61 site in Bowburn.

"Officers are treating the incident as arson and an investigation has been launched."  

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