A MAN is to stand trial accused of deliberately starting a fire in an unoccupied terraced house in a former mining village.

John Stephen Pye is alleged to have begun the blaze in furniture in a room at the unoccupied house in Ascot Street, in Easington Colliery, on Tuesday March 28.

He was arrested at the scene after police and the fire service were alerted by a near neighbour who saw smoke coming from the property.

It was said that other people had been at the premises earlier and the defendant claims he was trying to put out the blaze when the emergency services arrived.

Appearing via video link to Durham Crown Court from the city’s nearby prison, the 33-year-old defendant, of Vincent Street, Easington Colliery, denied arson with intent to endanger life and the alternative charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Those charges were put by the prosecution as there were neighbours to one side from the fire-hit property in the terraced street.

The case was adjourned for a two-day trial starting at the court on September 12.