A FIRE in an industrial area of Darlington has seen emergency services evacuate a nearby care facility residents as a precaution.

Smoke could be seen billowing from commercial garages near Saint William and St Francis de Sales Church, off Barton Street, in the Albert Hill area.

It is understood a vehicle caught fire in a garage, in turn setting the rest of the garage alight shortly before lunchtime on Saturday, June 15.

A small number of patients living in the nearby Cygnet St William's facility, off Cornwall Avenue, were evacuated from the site with the support of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) and Darlington Police.

CDDFRS dispatched four fire engines to the scene and a number of roads were closed in the area to allow for emergency services to dampen down the blaze and investigate the incident.

A spokesperson for Cygnet St William's said patients and care staff had been evacuated for two hours while the emergency services dealt with the fire.

The spokesperson confirmed that no-one had been injured as a result of the evacuation.