A FEROCIOUS blaze broke out in a yard packed with old electrical household appliances on Saturday night.

Black plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky above Darlington as firefighters battled for more than two hours to control a fire that involved more than 100 fridges.

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The fire in Darlington. Picture: CRAIG STODDART

The fridges and other flammable items including toys, oil drums, radiators and televisions were packed into the small Shutts Yard, behind Bondgate.

The whole area was filled with thick black smoke and crowds were warned to stay away.

A witness who lives close to the scene said the items in the yard had been growing in number for a long time before the fire broke out shortly before 8.30pm.

More than 20 people called the emergency services after spotting the massive blaze, which burned dangerously close to parked cars, residential properties and businesses.

Roads in the area were closed as crews from three fire engines battled the flames.

One witness said: “I heard the fire engines and looked out of my window to see everything was up in flames.

“I panicked a bit as it was so close to my house – it was absolutely massive and I’m just glad it was blowing in the opposite direction to where I live.

“I don’t know what’s happening in that yard or who it belongs to but the fridges and other things have been building up for a while.”

Shane Wright from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said nobody had been injured as a result of the fire, which took two hours to extinguish.

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