A FIRE which swept through a scrapyard last week was accidental, investigators have confirmed.

Residents of Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street were advised to stay indoors and roads closed as numerous teams of firefighters tackled a major fire involving a mountain of around 100 cars last Friday.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service was called to Lingey Close shortly before 2pm and spent more than an hour bringing the fire under control.

Noone was hurt in the incident.

Four appliances attended the incident - two from Durham, one from High Handenhold and one from Peterlee - as well as a water bowser from Spennymoor.

A CDDFS spokesman said: “Following an investigation it was identified that the fire was non-suspicious and it was an accident.”