Police are studying CCTV footage after 15 cars were destroyed in a factory blaze.
The fire broke out in the early hours of yesterday (fri 1) at the West Line Industrial Estate, near Birtley.
It destroyed 15 cars kept in an outside compound owned by West Line Direct, a repair garage which deals in older vehicles.
CCTV footage from a neighbouring factory unit shows the first flames appearing just after 4am, and police officers were continuing to study it yesterday.
Crime scene examiners were at the West Line unit yesterday morning and a number of vehicles have been recovered for closer inspection, partly to determine if any were broken into.
Detectives from Chester-le-Street CID said that although the fire's circumstances were suspicious, it was too early to say if it was arson.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact them on 0191-388 4311.
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