Firefighters tackle fire at CoHo Cocktails and Eatery in Durham

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service were alerted to the fire at CoHo on Freeman's Place, alongside the River Wear in Durham shortly after 8pm, when flames were spotted. 

The fire, which had broken out on cladding on the outside was extinguished and prevented from spreading to the bar itself..

A spokesperson for the CDDFRS said: "We were called to Freeman's Place at about 8pm this evening.

"There were reports of about 10 metres of external cladding at the side of the building on fire. 

"There were two appliances and a smaller pump attended. Two hosereels were used to extinguish the fire."

CoHo manager David English said: "There has been a fire. We don't know where, what, when or how at this point. 

"We are waiting for CCTV and for the police to turn up to see what they can tell us. It's lucky noone was hurt really. It could have been particularly nasty."

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The bar, which was closed at the time of the fire, will be open as usual from Tuesday.