Car was driven into cafe before set on fire

Two men have been released under investigation following an incident which saw a car driven into a cafe before being set on fire.

Firefighters and police were called to Sizzlers on Blackhills Road in Horden at around 9.30pm on Wednesday, January 13 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 is ongoing.

On Friday, Durham Constabulary that two arrests had been made in connection with the incident but said the individuals have now been released under investigation.

A force spokeswoman said: “We made two arrests yesterday. Both were adult males.

"Both have been released under investigation pending further inquiries.”

Following the incident, a Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “At 9.30pm on Wednesday our crews, together with colleagues from DurhamConstabulary 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.

"All persons were accounted for.

"There is currently an ongoing joint Fire and Police investigation into this incident .”

Anyone with information should contact Peter lee C ID on 101 quoting incident number 390 of January 13. Alternatively call Fire Stoppers anonymous lyon 0800 169 558.