A LARGE blaze which destroyed a disused caravan factory is being treated as suspicious.

Specialist police and firefighting teams have mounted a joint investigation into the fire at the former Elddis works, in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett, County Durham.

A total of 14 tenders and 90 firefighters attended the scene after the blaze was reported at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

At its height, flames leapt 30ft into the sky and a plume of thick black smoke could be seen from several miles away.

Firefighters were still damping down hotspots last night.

Brian Turnbull, fire safety manager for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade, said: "Crime scene investigators and fire investigators have been sifting through the remains for clues.

"We are keeping an open mind and are going through the remains systematically.

"The building was secured and has a perimeter fence, but it has been breached by children, who have been seen in the area on a number of occasions."

Detective Sergeant Vic Deanes, of Consett police, said: "We are treating the fire as suspicious, but at the moment we do not know what its cause was.

"We have been conducting door-to-door inquiries in the area and are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything or may have information about how the fire was started to contact us."

Anyone able to help is asked to call (01207) 504204.