Police question two boys over surgery blaze (From The Northern Echo)

Police question two boys over surgery blaze

10:14am Sunday 7th March 2010 in Regional By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield)

POLICE investigating a suspected arson attack that gutted a doctors surgery have spoken to two boys about the blaze.

Adan House surgery, in Spennymoor, County Durham, will need to be rebuilt after the fire ripped through its roof last night.

Durham police and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue have launched a joint investigation into the fire.

Police confirmed they have spoken to two male youths and are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.

Around 25 firefighters from Spennymoor, Bishop Auckland and Durham were deployed at around 6pm on Saturday and at one point feared nitrogen and oxygen cylinders inside could be ignited.

The surgery was closed at the time but nearby Asda supermarket had to be evacuated to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

Steve Owers, duty group manager, said: "The fire very quickly spread through the roof void and it took around two and half hours to control."

Surgery staff are working to establish replacement health services and run the surgery from alternative premises.

The public is asked to only call the surgery for urgent matters in the immediate future.

In the case of chest pain or collapse people should call 999.

The Urgent Care Centre can be contacted on 0300-111-0111 or advice can be obtained from NHS direct on 0845-4647.

Patients will be kept updated with changes.