Two boys aged 12 and 15 were arrested on suspicion of arson after a barn fire at Staindrop, County Durham.

Suspects had been seen fleeing the scene of the blaze last Friday afternoon, and police call handlers messaged the Teesdale Rural Watch Whatsapp group, alerting hundreds of volunteers to the incident.

The force drone was also deployed and was able to follow the suspects thanks to the real-time intelligence coming in from Rural Watch members.

A handful of message later and two young suspects were detained by officers in fields near Wackerfield, all within 37 minutes from the first 999 call. They were taken into custody and interviewed.

Police said enquiries are ongoing.

Inspector Ed Turner said the Rural Watch group continues to be invaluable to policing the area and thanked members for their assistance.

“Once again our Rural Watch members have demonstrated how effective this type of real-time intelligence is and are paving the way for helping us to help them,” he said.

“I want to thank them for their continued support and commitment – long may it continue.”

For more information about joining the scheme, email chairman Clement O’Donovan at clemdot@btinternet.com or PCSO Liz Finn at Elizabeth.finn@durham.police.uk with your name, address, contact telephone details and email address.