Warning over spate of grass fires

Parents are being urged to check on the whereabouts of their children after a series of grass fires in County Durham.

Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said its crews had been stretched after being called to a number of incidents since the weekend.

In the latest, on Monday, it is believed a fire which destroyed 20,000 sq m of grass, gorse and trees at East Stanley was started deliberately.

The brigade is warning the ground is extremely dry after the hot weather.

Fires spread

Crews spent about two hours bringing the flames under control at the fire near the Hilltop pub, in East Stanley, on Monday afternoon.

The brigade said fires had started in a number of different places, which led them to believe it was deliberate.

Brigade district manager for Derwentside, Ian Dockerty, said: "I am concerned about parents not knowing what their children are up to and they could be starting fires.

"People's lives are being put at risk. People don't realise how fires spread, that they can spread to property and the fact that our resources are tied up."

He also urged people to be careful when they are out because the ground was so dry that fires could easily be started.