Hundreds evacuated after factory fire

Police set up diversions to keep traffic away from the fire

Hundreds of people had to be evacuated from homes and business because of a major fire at a door factory in County Durham.

Explosions were reported at the Henderson Doors plant in Bowburn, near Durham City.

Traffic is being diverted away from the area, which is close to the A1M.

The Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has sent 12 appliances at the scene, including a special incident unit to the scene amid concerns over chemicals stored at the plant.

About 200 people from a neighbouring factory were asked to leave and local householders were told to lock doors and windows or leave their homes for a time.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "This was a major incident, which impacted on the southern approaches to Durham City.

"Smoke from the fire could be seen from some distance away.

"We set up diversions to take traffic away from the area."

The Essex-based company, which makes internal and external sliding doors, set up it's northern manufacturing base in Bowburn in 1969.

The company employs 300 people in Bowburn and invested £10m in the plant in 1992, to make it one of the most advanced door manufacturers in the world.

In 1994 the firm closed its Romford plant and concentrated production in Bowburn.