Dramatic pictures have come through this morning of what looks like a substantial fire at a disused tower in Peterlee that has recently become a hive of drug-taking, underage drinking and fire-starting.
The images show smoke rising from the building following a blaze on the site at around 8.20pm last night, and multiple fire engines still at the scene as work continued to address the incident.
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The disused tower block in County Durham has been used for underage drinking, drug-taking and young people setting fires, police have said with many "putting themselves in danger.”
Durham Police are now looking to work with council groups and other emergency services to secure the site and ban people from entering the premises, which has stood empty for six years.
A spokesperson for Durham Police said they had received “regular reports” of young people putting themselves in potential danger “by getting into the empty Lee House” in the town centre.
They added: “Kids are taking a risk by going into a disused building unsupervised, there is evidence of underage drinking, possible drug-taking, damage to windows and evidence of fire-setting.
“Every time this is reported to us, our officers attend and take appropriate action, but we suspect it happens more times than it is reported.”
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The force has also urged members of the public to be vigilant and to continue to report young people that choose to go in Lee House.
A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Reports of a fire in a derelict building of 7 floors came into CDDFRS control at 18:43, Tuesday 28 June.
"Six appliances and crews from High Handenhold, Wheatly Hill, Peterlee, Spennymoor, and Seaham all attended the fire in the Castle Dene Shopping Centre, Peterlee.
"On arrival it was found the fire was on the 5th floor. Crews extinguished the fire using 2 breathing apparatus, 1 hose reel and 1 covering jet; they left the scene at 08:26, Wednesday, 29 June.
"A fire investigation is being carried out today.”
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