FIREFIGHTERS spent yesterday tackling a scrapyard blaze that could be seen for miles around.
The fire broke out in the Ward Brothers yard, in the Albert Hill area of Darlington, at about 6.30am and was finally brought under control late yesterday afternoon.
A huge pall of thick smoke hung over the town's rush-hour traffic and services on the nearby railway line were disrupted.
Northern Rail announced that some trains had to be cancelled and replacement buses were brought in, but normal rail service was resumed at 9am.
At one stage during the morning, more than 20 firefighters were battling to cope with 100 tonnes of blazing scrap metal and rubbish.
Crews used an aerial ladder platform to get above the fire to put it out.
Smoke could be seen as far south as Scotch Corner and over on to Teesside.
Police sealed off nearby streets as a precaution during the morning, but said the smoke posed no danger to people living nearby.
The cause is being investigated
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