FIREFIGHTERS are treating two rural blazes involving a barn and container in County Durham as deliberate.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) were called out on Friday at 9.47pm to a container alight on land near Wingate Quarry Nature Reserve.

Group manager John Walkden said the unit, which contained a large quantity of rubbish, had been broken into and set on fire.

Three appliances were used to extinguish the fire.

Crews were shortly after dispatched to a barn blaze on a remote country road near Trimdon Village following a report made at 2.54am on Saturday.

The locked barn had been broken into and flames destroyed straw, a tractor and farming machinery.

Due to difficulties with water supplies, four appliances attended and breathing apparatus, two hose reels and one jet was used to put out the fire.

Mr Walkden confirmed both incidents were being treated as deliberate. Police were informed.

No one was believed to be injured. CDDFRS are working with Durham Police to urge farmers to be more vigilant.