Dozens of firefighters are this evening continuing to tackle a huge fire in a disused building in Newcastle city centre.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire in the building in Carliol Square, in Newcastle, at about 6.45pm.
A cloud of smoke that billowed into the sky was seen for miles around as firefighters and police converged on the scene. There are not believed to be any casualties.
Read more: Newcastle Carliol Square fire LIVE: Emergency services in attendance
Several appliances from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue service were at the scene along with officers from Northumbria Police, who closed off the central motorway northbound from Tyne Bridge.
Members of the North East Ambulance Service were also in attendance.
Eye witness Jack Wallace Hunter who alerted The Northern Echo to the incident said: “We were walking across the bridge from Manors Metro station and we saw this massive cloud of smoke billowing out of the building.
“We’ve seen fire engines going to the scene.”
People in the area are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) 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) vehciles 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.
“We will update you with more information as we can but please avoid the area if possible.”
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 18:58 to reports of a building on fire on Carliol Square in Newcastle.
“We currently have a duty officer and three hazardous area response team crews at the scene in support of our fire colleagues.”
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “It’s anticipated that the road closures will continue into tomorrow morning and we strongly advise that commuters research their route to work in the morning before setting off.”