A FARMER has told of his shock at seeing his family home of 63 years damaged by fire.

Keith Straughan said that a working farm dog had to be rescued from the fire at High Wales Field Farm, Morley, near Hamsterley, last night.

The ground-floor of the house was gutted, although firefighters extinguished the flames within minutes of arriving at about 5.30pm.

Mr Straughan, landlord at the Edge Hotel, in nearby Butterknowle, said his son John, the farm manager, had lit a fire in the house before going out to milk the cows.

He said: "Thankfully nobody was inside, but it is a shock to see the family house, which has been in our family since 1939, in this kind of state."

When John realised the home was alight he returned to release his collie-cross dog who was still inside.