FIREFIGHTERS spent two-and-a-half hours tackling a blaze which badly damaged a derelict building on an edge-of-town industrial estate.

The initial call was received reporting a building, formerly used as a Chinese takeaway, on fire on Armstrong Road, on Peterlee’s North-East Industrial Estate, shortly after 1am today.

Two local fire crews initially attended, but back-up was requested from Durham station, and an aerial ladder platform was also summoned to offer overhead support.

They managed to bring the blaze under control with the use of two jets and a hose reel by 3.40am.

As a precaution a new shift visited the scene to make a check, shortly after dawn, and everything was said to be in order.

The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.