A major catastrophe was narrowly avoided when a caravan burst into flames just metres from petrol and diesel pumps at Mickleton Service Station on Wednesday afternoon. The blaze left the caravan gutted and two vehicles destroyed with one seriously damaged. Cotherstone resident Robert “Taff” Johnson said he was travelling behind the caravan for about a mile before coming into the village and had noticed smoke coming out of it. Alistair Hutchinson, from Mickleton Service Station, said: “A vehicle towing a caravan was travelling through the village and stopped just past the forecourt of the garage as they had noticed smoke coming from the caravan. A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) spokesperson said: “We were called at 2.23pm on July 22, to a caravan fire at Mickleton Service Station, on the B6277, Barnard Castle.