Car driven into cafe before being set alight

An investigation is under way after a car was driven into the entrance of Horden cafe Sizzlers and then set on fire.

Firefighters and police were called to the cafe on Blackhills Road at around 9.30pm on Wednesday, after a car hit the building.

The occupants of the car, believed to be a black Mitsubishi Shogun, then set it on fire before running from the scene.

A joint police and fire service investigation into the incident has been launched.

A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: “Police were called to a premises in Horden, following reports of a vehicle colliding with a building.

“ItisbelievedablackMitsubishi Shogun was driven into the entrance of Sizzlers shortly after 9.30pm.

“The occupants then set the vehicle alight before making off on foot in an unknown direction.

“A joint investigation is now under way with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.”

A Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “At 9.30pm last night our crews, together with colleagues from Durham Constabulary, were called to reports of a vehicle colliding with a building on Blackhills Road in Hordon.

“Three appliances attended – two from Peterlee and one from Sedgefield.

"On arrival the car was well alight, so our crews used two hose reels to extinguish the fire and a positive pressure ventilation fan to disperse the smoke. There is currently an ongoing joint Fire and Police investigation into this incident.”