A SHOPPING street has suffered its third fire in less than 18 months.
Fire crews were called to Front Street in Stanley at around 8pm after reports of a blaze in a shop.
Eyewitnesses reported smoke billowing out of a building in the town’s main shopping street, believed to be a comic book shop.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the building and brought the fire under control.
Commercial premises in the County Durham town have been hit by several fires in recent years.
In November 2013, the historic Elite Buildings at the bottom of Front Street were reduced to rubble after fire started in a Chinese takeaway.
The following month, four businesses were forced to temporarily close after an arson attack on a Victorian parade of shops.
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