FIREFIGHTERS could have responded to a blaze which engulfed a barn, in half the time it took military personnel, it was claimed yesterday.

Ian Moore, pay co-ordinator for Durham and Darlington Fire Brigades Union, said cover provided by the Army during the strike did not compare to that of the fire brigade.

He said this was demonstrated on Thursday night when two Green Goddesses attended the blaze in a 60ft hay shed at Low Houselop Farm, Tow Law, Weardale, County Durham.

One vehicle and its crew, from Crook, arrived 20 minutes after the call, then called for another from Bishop Auckland, which arrived 15 minutes later.

Mr Moore said that the fire brigade would have had two appliances from Crook fire station on the scene in just over five minutes, and would probably have called for back-up from Durham and Bishop Auckland within minutes.

He said: "We would definitely have been on site much quicker and been able to handle the situation better.

"We have the best equipment and a lot of experience of barn fires, working in a rural county."

Farm owners, Dougie and Marie Foster, praised the Army but said they felt it took longer to control the blaze than if firefighters had been on duty.

Mrs Foster said: "We were worried the fire would spread to livestock in other barns, the house, or diesel tanks but, thankfully, they were able to prevent that.

"Men stayed through the night and until yesterday afternoon, pumping water on to the fire and a Goddess returned in the morning."

A spokesperson for the Army said: "Our units responded immediately to the call and were able to prevent any threat to life, of people or livestock."