A HOUSE has been damaged after being firebombed as part of an ongoing feud in Darlington.

Police are trying to trace the three occupants of dark-coloured 4x4 that was seen on Yarm Road just before the empty house was targeted.

Firefighters and police were called at around 7pm on Wednesday night after a passerby heard a loud explosion and saw the building on fire.

The semi-detached house on the corner of Yarm Road and Lynton Gardens was searched for occupants by firefighters to ensure the property was empty at the time of the attack.

A 4x4 believed to have been used in the attack was later found burnt out on Bishopton Lane, Great Burdon, on the outskirts of Darlington.

Inspector Chris Knox, from the Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: "We received a call just after 7pm from a member of the public who reported hearing a loud bang and saw a flash of fire at the house.

"It is believed that three men were involved in the attack and made their escape in a dark coloured 4x4.

"It is suspected that some kind of accelerant was used to start the fire.

"We then received a report of at 7.30pm of a car being on fire on Bishopton Lane, Great Burdon, which we believe could be linked to the incident as it was a dark coloured 4x4.

"We would appeal to anyone who witnessed the car in the vicinity of Yarm Road at around 7pm or anyone who saw it leaving the area, to call police."

The incident is believed to be the latest in a long-running feud involving members of the Traveller community.

Just before Christmas a 4x4 was driven into semi-detached house on the corner of The Fairway and Yarm Road, before being set alight.

The same property was targeted on December 19, 2016, when a lorry was reversed through a garden wall, stopping short of the front bay window.

Anyone with any information can contact Durham Police via non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 460 of December 20.

Information can also passed on to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.