The walls of an upstairs flat in South Shields were reduced to rubble this morning following a suspected explosion inside the property.
Emergency services were called to Bewick Street shortly after 11am and a number of homes had to be evacuated as police and fire crews worked to assess the damage and maintain the safety of residents.
One patient was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital for further treatment by Northumbria Police officers. The patient's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
