POLICE have launched an arson investigation after a major fire at a derelict school building in a County Durham town.
A spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “Reports of a fire in the former school in Croft Street, Crook, came into CDDFRS control just before 7.00pm on Saturday, May, 21.
“Five crews from Durham, Consett, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland responded to the fire, along with the Aerial Ladder Platform.
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“The derelict building, formerly a school, was well alight, with crews working for over two hours to extinguish the fire.
“A joint investigation with Durham Constabulary has been launched into the cause, at this time it is thought to be deliberate.
A Durham Police spokesperson said|: “Police were called at around 7.20pm on Saturday night to reports of a fire at a derelict building on Croft Street, Crook.
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“Thankfully nobody was injured. The fire is being treated as arson and an investigation is underway.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crook response team on 101 quoting incident number 389 of May 21.
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