EMERGENCY services dealt with a lorry fire on the outskirts of Consett on Monday morning.

The alarm was raised just before 10.30am on the A692 between Delves Lane roundabout and and Morrisons supermarket.

Eyewitness Brian Teasdale, from Shotley Bridge, said: “There was a lot of smoke and flames 30ft into the air.

“It was a lorry between and seven-and-a-half and ten tonnes. It was absolutely engulfed in flames.

“It was pretty bad.”

The road was closed while the emergency services made the area safe.

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said: “Police together with colleagues from the fire service were called to report of a truck alight near to Consett Bypass shortly before 10.30am. Nobody was believed to be injured.”

A spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “We extinguished the fire using two breathing apparatus and one hose reel. No ambulance was required. A recovery vehicle came for the lorry.”