ACTIVITIES at a yard packed full of appliances were being investigated for months before a huge blaze broke out there on Saturday, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The ferocious fire, which could be seen across the skies of Darlington, took hold in a small yard packed dangerously full of appliances and other items, including more than 100 old fridges.

Fire crews battled for more than two hours to tackle the flames at Shutts Yard, an area behind Bondgate that is in close vicinity to residential properties, businesses and parked cars.

Residents in neighbouring homes told The Northern Echo that the goods in the yard had been building up for a considerable amount of time before the fire broke out and claimed fire engines had been sighted there on previous occasions.

On Monday, Darlington Borough Council said an investigation into anti-social activities in the yard had been on-going since last August following concerns raised by surrounding businesses.

The tenants occupying the flats associated with the yard have been served with community protection notices forbidding them to have fires in the shared space.

They were told they must clear the area of its accumulation of miscellaneous items - which included a tent, oil drum, radiators and television sets - and banned from storing further objects in the yard.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said the situation had not been deemed to be a public health nuisance.

She added: “It was considered that initial action could be taken under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

“The council is working with the Environment Agency, the fire brigade and the landlord, and investigations are ongoing.

“Following the fire on Saturday, Environmental Health and the Environment Agency have arranged a meeting for this week.”

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