New pictures reveal the catastrophic extent of damage caused to a derelict County Durham infant school building in a late night blaze earlier this week. 

Firefighters were tackling flames at the Greenland Infant School building in South Moor, Stanley on Tuesday (May 16) for over nine hours after a fire broke out just after 10pm.

Images taken by eyewitnesses show the flames tearing through the roof as firefighters on cranes battled to put out the large inferno.

The Northern Echo: The fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley.The fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley. (Image: CHELSEA WARREN)

The building, which has been derelict for over ten years, has seen multiple fires since it has been abandoned, with the last being just over two years ago.

Police have confirmed that they are investigating this latest fire, and say it is being treated as "suspicious".

Drone pictures taken of the site yesterday (May 15) now show one of the buildings is mostly without a roof as the blackened and burned foundations of the building still stand.

The Northern Echo: Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley.Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley. (Image: LC DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY)

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.16pm on Tuesday, May 14 to a fire at the derelict Greenland Infant School in South Moor.

“Two fire engines from High Handenhold, one fire engine from Consett, and one fire engine from Durham Fire Station attended the incident, along with Durham’s Area Ladder Platform.

The Northern Echo: Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley.Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley. (Image: LC DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY)

“Crews used three hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze before leaving the scene at 7.54am on Wednesday, May 15.”

The Northern Echo: Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley.Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley. (Image: LC DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY)

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The Northern Echo: Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley.Devastating aftermath of the fire at the Greenland Infant School in Stanley. (Image: LC DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY)

A Durham Constabulary statement said: "Police were called to reports of a fire in a derelict school building in Stanley at about 10.20pm last night (Tuesday, May 14).

"The incident at the former Greenland Primary School, in South Terrace, is being treated as suspicious. Enquiries are ongoing."