Residents have told how they feared they might have to flee their homes after a fierce field fire erupted for the second time in two days.
Flames quickly tore through tinder dry crops across acres of land in semi-rural west Gateshead earlier.
Emergency services attended the blaze near Dyke Heads Lane in Greenside, near Ryton, on Thursday afternoon.
Read more: Tributes paid to Bishop Auckland man as family make one request to mourners
Footage taken by residents shows farmers using tractors to create fire breaks to prevent flames spreading further, while smoke could be seen for miles around.
IT project manager Greg Spencer, 28, who lives with wife, Grace, and their 11-month-old son, Frederick, on Lenore Terrace, said: “My wife and I got a bag ready because we have got an 11-month-old.
“If we need to move with him, we need to move with him quickly. He has got a lot of stuff to pack.
“A lot of neighbours are elderly so they were packing too just in case.
“We just hope it does not start up again.”
Kay Rowell, of Kenmore Crescent, said the flames almost reached her house.
She said: “It started at 5pm on Wednesday and the fire service came and put it out.
“For some reason it has flared up again today at about 2pm.
“It was much bigger today. It has gone right up the field and burnt the hedge on the roadside.
“It is very frightening.”
Firefighters have also dealing with another major fire across the River Tyne in Walbottle
It follows other fires which occurred in Ryton Willows as well as Pelton Fell near Chester-le-Street, on Wednesday.
A total of 60 fires, including 16 grass fires, were attended by TWFRS on Wednesday, significantly above the daily average.
A service spokesperson said: “We are continuing to battle a number of fires this afternoon across Tyne and Wear.
“The majority of the most challenging fires are grass fires in large stretches of field.
“These very dry conditions cause fire to spread rapidly.
“We would continue to ask the public to behave responsibly and follow our advice to help mitigate against an increase in incidents.
“Our Fire Control are doing an amazing job with another big spike in calls. “Please be patient and only call us in an emergency.
“We will prioritise calls where there is an immediate risk to person or property but will always send an appliance when it is needed.”
Read next:
- This is when major A-road will reopen after burst water main flooded road
- Heartbreak as 'devoted' Bishop Auckland couple die in car crash
- Lewis Capaldi cancels Scarborough Open Air Theatre gig with 24 hours to go
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to The Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here