Firefighters descended on Newcastle city centre after a huge blaze took hold of a disused building.
Plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing from the building in the centre of the city on Wednesday night as emergency services rushed to the scene. Eight fire vehicles responded to the call-out shortly before 7pm and police officers cordoned off the area.
Residents in the area were urged to close all windows and doors and motorists were told to find alternative routes after the northbound and southbound carriageways of the A167(M) were closed.
Read more: Newcastle city centre fire LIVE: Emergency services on the scene after fire breaks out this evening
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We have a significant presence at a large fire at a disused building in Carliol Square in Newcastle City Centre this evening. Our Fire Control received a call reporting a fire at the large, unoccupied former commercial building at around 6.44pm today. Our first appliance was on scene in just five minutes.
"In total, eight appliances and two Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) vehicles are on scene to help bring the fire under control.
"Our colleagues at Northumbria Police are supporting us on scene and the central motorway has been closed northbound from the Tyne Bridge with diversions in place. This is in a prominent area in the city centre but we would ask businesses and properties in the area to keep their doors and windows closed due to the level of smoke.”
The extent of the damage caused to the building is not yet known, but smoke could be seen rising from the scene for miles.
Earlier this month, more than 50 firefighters have spent hours tackling a major blaze which ripped through a Grade-II listed building in High Heaton. The emergency services were alerted to the fire at the Henderson Old Hall and locals were stunned by the scale of the blaze, with many lamenting the loss of a "lovely old building".
The incident is being treated as suspected arson and one man was arrested.
