A MAJOR fire at a North-East industrial estate has not polluted the river nearby, the Environment Agency has confirmed.

Tests have been carried out on the River Browney, which runs into the River Wear, following the blaze at Langley Park in County Durham on Friday morning.

Thick black smoke from a large number of tyres stored on Riverside Industrial Estate filled the air and flames spread to trees surrounding a nature reserve.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We were alerted to Friday’s fire at Langley Park by the fire and rescue service and Environment Agency staff attended straight away.

“We provided support to the fire service to manage fire water run-off and minimise any impact on the nearby River Browney.

“This included putting booms around the surface water drain outfalls, which were carrying run-off into the river.

“We carried out repeated sampling of the river throughout, and there has been no significant impact on the watercourse and no impact on fisheries.”

The fire, which broke out at around 11.15am, destroyed a building which housed five businesses and an investigation to determine the cause is expected to start on Tuesday.

A 54-year-old man arrested on Friday on suspicion of arson has been bailed pending further inquiries.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “Forensic examination of the scene will start on Tuesday and is expected to last two days.”

At the height of the fire more than 40 firefighters, six fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were used in the operation to get the flames under control.

Firefighting duties stopped at 1pm on Sunday, more than 48 hours after the blaze started, and fire officers have been revisited the site since to make sure any ‘hotspots’ did not reignite.

John Walkden, operational delivery manager with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire was now out and the site had been handed back to the owner.

The scene has been preserved for fire investigators to start their examination of the area along with the police.

Mr Walkden said: “We had a revisit on Sunday night and again on Monday morning.

“We are in discussion with the police about the availability of investigating officers and the security of the site, which has been preserved.”