FIRE crews wearing breathing apparatus went inside a burning building to carry out a search after reports that children were trapped inside.

Emergency services received reports that youngsters had been seen running from the derelict Smiths Arms pub in Catchgate, near Stanley after a large fire broke out early on Saturday evening.

However, after an extensive sweep of the three-storey building on North Road and its basement, firefighters confirmed that the disused pub was empty when the blaze broke out.

One member of the public was taken to hospital by paramedics suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Six fire crews attended the incident, along with senior officers, and the main road through the village was closed to traffic while firefighters brought the blaze under control.

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “This was initially reported as persons reported trapped as children were seen running in to the building.

“Following an extensive search by crews we can confirm that all persons are now accounted for”.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.