A sunbed shop customer has told how she emerged from a tanning session to find firefighters were on their way to the salon.
Victoria Healer was topping-up her tan at Heavenly Heat, in Chester-le-Street , when a wiring problem on another bed caused heavy smoke in a separate room.
As the professional artist basked under the UV light she was blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding outside as huge plumes of smoke billowed out of the shop, onto Front Street, and onlookers gathered outside.
It was only after Victoria finished her nine minute session and got dressed that she discovered firefighters had been called to the shop.
Today the 52-year-old told of her relief that she had finished tanning before emergency services arrived.
She said: "I'm just pleased I wasn't naked when the firefighters arrived. I would never have thought about it in a million years. I did panic a bit."
Victoria, who has been a regular customer at Heavenly Heat for around two years, went to the salon on Friday lunchtime to top up her tan in preparation for a forthcoming holiday.
The mum-of-four was using a bed when she claims she noticed a strange smell.
"I was lying in the corner room having my nine minutes. I was just coming to the end of my minutes and waiting for the machine to beep when I thought 'what is that horrible smell," she said.
Victoria said she got dressed and walked out the room to find that smoke coming out the salon's window was attracting a lot of attention.
"I walked out into Front Street and the whole street was out," she said. "Then the fire engine came up the street.
Crews from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene, at just before 12.30pm.
And police closed the road while firefighters extinguished the flames and used a ventilation fan to clear smoke from the building.
On Heavenly Heat's Facebook page the shop says the incident was caused by a 'wiring issue'.
A post, published shortly after the drama on Friday, said: "Unfortunately we're closed for the rest of the day.
"We had a wiring issue with a sunbed and a visit from the lovely guys at the local fire brigade.
Our electrician is en route for checks and services. We'll let you know once we're open again"
