AN inquiry has cleared a firefighter of any wrongdoing after the fire engine he hired out for parties turned up in the street of a fatal blaze hours after a man died.

The converted engine drove into Douai Drive, Consett, on February 4, where James Young, 87, had died.

The engine-for-hire is run by the wife of Sunderland firefighter Ged Peters.

But an investigation by Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade found he had done nothing wrong as he had not been directly involved with the running of the vehicle.

Richard Bull, chief officer of Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade, said an internal investigation had also found no evidence to suggest any of his staff had been on board the engine, which was full of revellers.

He said: "Mr Peters is a serving fire officer at Fulwell station, but our inquiries have found he is not directly involved in the business which is run by his wife.

"Our staff are allowed to do secondary jobs, and Mr Peters has permission to drive executive and wedding cars, but he has not been driving the vehicle as far as we are aware."

Revellers on board the engine said it had turned up in the street of the fatal fire because it had taken a wrong turn.