WORK began yesterday on repairing a fire-damaged Durham City garage.

A workshop and a B-registration Mercedes car were damaged in the blaze at Gilesgate Motor Company, Gilesgate Moor.

Six firefighters wearing breathing equipment tackled the fire just before midnight on Thursday.

About 30 cars were in the workshop which was badly smoke damaged. Cars were being cleaned yesterday.

Police and fire brigade investigators said the fire was not being treated as suspicious. An electrical fault is thought the likely cause.

Garage manager Dorothea Booth said the workshop would be closed until Thursday, but the bodyshop would open for business as usual.

Customers have been contacted and lease cars arranged for those affected.

Mrs Booth said: "Men are coming in to repaint the place. Luckily the fire was contained in the workshop and the bodyshop was untouched.

"We will be up and running in the workshop by next Thursday, and I have been in touch with my customers because they are my main priority."