Shocking picture shows flames spread across nature reserve in Marsden

The crew was called at around 8.50pm on Friday, April 16, as flames from the hill could be seen from nearby homes.

One shocking picture of the shows the blaze spreading across the grassland ahead of the arrival of emergency teams.

One fire engine attended the incident although Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has not yet confirmed what caused the fire on Friday evening.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire within a matter of minutes upon arriving at the scene.

A spokeswoman for the brigade said: “We got the call at 8.48pm and originally sent a target response vehicle but following numerous calls explaining the size of the fire we sent on appliance from South Shields.

"The fire was on grassland and we received the stop at 9.06pm. Crews left the scene at 9.14pm.”

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