EXPERTS are investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed an electronics factory at the weekend.

More than 30 firefighters fought for more than three hours to control the fire at Thorn Homeserve, West Boldon, near Sunderland.

The unit, in Didcot Way on the Boldon Business Park, makes telecommunications and satellite equipment.

The crews had to wear breathing apparatus because of toxic smoke from the plastic and polystyrene in the two-storey building.

The fire broke out at 2.46am on Saturday, and fire crews were on the scene until after 7am