THE cause of multiple house fires across County Durham and Darlington are being investigated.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service was called out to three serious blazes at properties on Saturday night.

Crews from Consett and Wheatley Hill were first dispatched to a fire at Eleventh Street, in Horden, near Peterlee, at 8.20pm.

They used breathing apparatus, two hose reels, a jet and ladder platform to extinguish the flames and left the scene at 9.48pm.

At 8.39pm a report was made of a fire in the first floor bedroom of a home on Davis Avenue, St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland.

An engine from Crook and an engine and a special rescue unit from Bishop Auckland were sent.

Two breathing apparatus and a hose reel was used to put the fire out before crews left at 10.07pm.

Engines from Darlington and Newton Aycliffe were then called to extinguish flames at a derelict house on Bardon Moor Road, in Darlington, at 9.48pm.

A fire service spokesperson said the building was well alight on arrival and two breathing apparatus and a hose reel was used to put the blaze out.

Crews left the scene at 11.24pm.

No injuries were reported at any of the properties.

Investigations to establish the cause of the three fires are now underway.