A FIRE which destroyed a stable block on council-owned smallholdings is the latest in a series of arson attacks there, locals say.

The blaze, on Monday night, ripped through an old railway carriage used to house livestock on one of the plots on the edge of Geneva Woods, off Neasham Road in Darlington.

It took place on a plot which had been left empty since the last tenant moved his animals and gave up his smallholding.

It is understood some of the other tenants wanted to take on the site, but Darlington Borough Council had not taken any action on its original plan of sealed bids as it is considering the closure of the plots eventually.

One local said this had led to someone seizing the plot as grazing land unlawfully – but to do so without being prosecuted for breaking and entering they had to use a plot with no buildings on it.

This has led to a series of fires on each of the buildings on the plot, razing them to the ground.

One local said no-one was living on the plot but at least some animals had been moved on to it for the grazing.

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said the cause of the latest fire was currently being investigated.

And while residents said it was about the fifth fire there in just six months County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue was unable to confirm this last night.

It is understood there have also been arson attacks on some of the current smallholders’ plots in the past, with one stable block being burned to the ground.

Some years ago a blaze in one of the sheds led to the death of a young horse trapped inside.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of these issues and our Estates team has had discussions with some local residents and nearby land users.

“We are in the process of appointing a specialist contractor to clear the site as it is now contaminated after the recent fires, as well as seeking to deal with a horse which has been placed on the land without the consent of the council.

“The clearance work will also involve an element of security to the area to help prevent further illegal grazing.

“This will take a number of weeks and we are asking people to be patient whilst this is progressed."

She added: "In the short term we are working with the police to address the problems around this site and will be contacting the horse owner to arrange removal of his livestock.

“Once the site is cleared of contamination we will then be a position to consider its future use.”