See dramatic moment huge fire engulfed Hetton car show room

Dramatic footage captured by a passerby shows the huge extent of the fire which engulfed a car show room in Hetton.

Nearby residents gathered in the street to watch as the blaze took hold at the locked premises late on Saturday night.

Flames reached several feet high at times and thick plumes of smoke filled the area before the fire was brought under control.

Firefighters spent half an hour tackling the fire which destroyed vehicles at the Durham Cars 4U show room which is next door to Hetton Social Club.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said they were called by police at 11.16pm on Saturday, December 14.

Two fire engines attended the scene and the fire was put out by 11.44pm.

A third fire engine was initially on its way to the incident, but it was not not used and returned to the station.

The fire broke out on the forecourt of Durham Cars 4U on Station Road in Hetton and firefighters had to use cutting equipment to get into the forecourt as the unit was locked up.

No injuries or damage to other properties in the area have been reported.

The fire service has said that seven cars which had been on the forecourt were damaged by the fire with six of them were completely burned out.