Wildfire tears through fields in High Shincliffe, Durham

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A wildfire the size of 14 football pitches has torn through fields in County Durham. 

Firefighters were called to a blaze in High Shincliffe, near Durham University's Graham Sports Centre and the Rose Tree Inn, at 2.14pm this afternoon (July 12). 

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service received 64 calls about the fire, which had spread across 100,000 square metres, around the size of 14 football pitches. 

Pictures taken from the scene off the A177 Stockton Road showed flames pouring from the field, home to standing crops,

Smoke was also reportedly seen as far away as Durham City Centre. 

Flames ripping through a field in High Shincliffe, Durham (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)

The blaze was so huge that it was categorised as a wildfire by the fire service - with group manager Jon Singleton confirming nobody was injured or evacuated as a result. 

Crews brought the flames under control within 30 to 45 minutes of arriving at the scene and are now dampening down the land and checking for hotspots. 

Mr Singleton said the cause of the fire is not yet known at this stage, and that it will now work to establish a cause.

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