Several properties were evacuated as firefighters tackled a blaze at a barbershop in a County Durham town this afternoon.

Emergency services were alerted and a road closed after a fire broke out in a wheelie bin at King Cut Barber in Church Street, Shildon, shortly before 2.30pm on Wednesday (August 8).

Police closed off the road in both directions, between John Street and Primitive Street, while firefighters tackled the blaze.

A gas service pipe serving two properties were damaged by the wheelie bin fire. Gas engineers safely isolated the service pipe and the situation was made safe.

Several properties were evacuated as a precaution. The road was reopened after a number of hours, with police officers remaining on the scene. 

The cause of the fire is not known. 

A Durham Police spokesperson said earlier: "Church Street, in Shildon has been closed following a fire.

"The road has been closed in both directions between the John Street and Primitive Street junctions while crews from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service work at the scene."

The spokesperson later provided an update, saying: "Just before 3pm we were alerted by fire service colleagues to a fire in a wheelie-bin behind a commercial property in Church Street, Shildon.

"A number of nearby houses were evacuated due to the possibility of a damaged gas main and the road was temporarily closed.

"An investigation to determine the cause of the fire is underway."

Steve Pigott, Business Operations Lead at Northern Gas Networks (NGN) said: “Our Emergency Response Engineers responded to a police report of a gas escape outside a property in Church Street, Shildon, earlier today.

"A gas service pipe serving two properties had been damaged by a fire in an adjacent wheelie bin. 

“The service pipe was safely isolated and the situation was made safe.  The gas supply to other properties in the area is not affected.”

Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “Just before 2:30pm today (Wednesday), we were called to reports of a fire at a commercial building on Church Street, Shildon.

"One fire engine from Bishop Auckland Fire Station attended the scene. Several properties within 50 metres of the fire have been evacuated as a precaution.

"Our crews extinguished the fire and left the scene just after 5pm.”