New pictures suggest work has begun at a derelict school building that went up in flames last month.
Drone shots of the Greenland Infant School building in South Moor, Stanley show workers and vehicles around the building sparking rumours the building is being developed.
This speculation comes a month after the building, which has been abandoned for ten years, devastatingly went up in flames on May 14.
Images taken by eyewitnesses at the time showed the flames tearing through the roof as firefighters on cranes battled to put out the large inferno.
However, the nature of the new ongoing work and the reasoning for personnel on site (which is privately owned) remains unknown.
Several cars, a shipping container, a lorry and workers wearing high vis jackets can be seen in the new images taken by a local resident.
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Police confirmed following the fire that it was under investigation.
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."
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