A HOME in Willington was destroyed by fire yesterday.

The end-of-terrace house in Clifton Green, on the Sunnybrow estate, was gutted by a blaze thought to have started because of a gas leak.

Neighbours reported hearing a bang which they believed to be either a gas explosion or the windows of the home shattering because of the intense heat.

Firefighters had feared people were trapped inside the bulding, but the owner and her partner, both in their mid-30s, and her two teenage sons, had all left the house earlier in the morning.

Fire crews called to the scene from Crook and Bishop Auckland, at about 10.30am, battled with the blaze for an hour, supported by the aerial platform ladder team from Durham.

Residents were evacuated from two neighbouring properties because of fears that the fire could spread along the row of terraces, and three boxer dogs were rescued from their back garden kennel.

Station manager Gary Noble, of Bishop Auckland fire station, said: "Our first concern is always for life and because neighbours were concerned there could be occupants inside officers with breathing apparatus checked the property.

"Once it was cleared we started to extinguish the flames and thought we had it under control, before it re-ignited because of a gas build- up.

"Our investigations are ongoing but early indications suggest the fire started under the stairs where the gas meter is, and it would appear a gas leak has been the cause.

"Inside is complete devastation. The house was destroyed and the fire had started to spread into the attic next door, but that was contained."