Dramatic drone pictures show how terrifyingly close a wildfire came to County Durham homes during this week’s scorching heatwave.

Flames tore through cornfields next to residential properties and a care home in Trimdon Station.

Crews were called to tackle the blaze on Thursday afternoon with other large scale crop fires across the region, including at Greenside and Walbottle.

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On Wednesday, Ryton Willows, a nature reserve, was seriously damaged by fire, and crews were also called to Pelton Fell in Chester-le-Street.

The alarm in Trimdon Station was raised as the fire threatened to spread to nearby gardens and allotments containing livestock.

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

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Two fire engines attended and crews immediately acted to prevent the fire spreading to gardens right at the field edge.

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A spokesperson for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “We can confirm there was a fire at the cornfields in Trimdon Station.

“We received the call at 3pm and two appliances were dispatched to the scene from Wheatley Hill and Peterlee.

“Our crews arrived at 3.16pm. The fire was extinguished and they left at 3.52pm.”

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

The Northern Echo: Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA Pictures: MATTHEW DONNACHIE, PYRO MEDIA

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