A warning has been put in place after the site of a former County Durham pub that has fallen into disrepair has been hit by several vandalism and fly-tipping incidents.

The Chilton Lodge in Fencehouses stood as a popular local for many years, before closing down and slowly declining into a state of disrepair. 

While the site still stands, with signage and several smashed windows, it has become commonplace for vandalism in recent times, alongside large fly-tips. 

For the last couple of years, The Chilton Country Pub and Hotel in Chilton Moor, near Houghton-Le-Spring, has been sat derelict after a succession of failed attempts to run the once popular venue.

Despite its closure, the pub and hotel has hit headlines after a devastating fire ripped through the building in a suspected arson attack.

Since then, wooden boards have been sheltering the windows and doors, while the interior of the building is heavily gutted from the fire.

Following the fire, the venue has also been subject to continuous fly-tipping, which has seen Durham County Council’s wardens investigate who is beyond the dumping of waste at The Chilton Country Pub and Hotel.

In August 2022, the former pub site had sofas, other furniture and rubbish bags dumped on it. 

After those incidents, Durham County Council wardens have now stated the former pub site - saying that more patrols will take place, while wardens also encouraged members of the public to report incidents of vandalism and fly-tipping. 

A spokesperson for the county council wardens said: "Regular patrols have been carried out at Chilton Lodge, FenceHouses due to a significant amount of fly tips and anti-social behaviour.

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"The fencing has previously been damaged, we have since secured this to prevent further access.

"We would like to remind all members of the public of the dangers of accessing this land as it is structurally unsafe.

"We encourage the public to report any issues of Environmental Crime or Anti Social Behaviour to the Neighbourhood Warden team on 03000 260 000."