21:00 Daniel Milligan

Community spirit comes to the fore

Firefighters battling a city centre blaze were treated to tea and sandwiches by grateful volunteers.

Staff from the Home Group on Westgate Road, which offers sheltered accommodation to young people, threw open their doors to weary emergency service personnel working to extinguish the fire at Kard Bar on Cross Street today.

Linda McKie, business contract manager, said: “We had a fire in the building back in 2011 and the community pulled together to help us then, so we wanted to do what we could now.

(Image: Paul Norris)

“When we heard what was going on we opened our doors and made some sandwiches and got tea and coffee for the firefighters.

She added: “They do unbelievable work in the community everyday so to help them in anyway is great.”

The British Red Cross also ran a rest centre to help those evacuated from nearby buildings.

Around 50 people were offered shelter and hot drinks at Red Cross rest centre after.

David Ellis, senior service manager for the British Red Cross in the North East and Cumbria, said: “We provided emotional and practical support to around 50 people who were evacuated from buildings near the scene of what was a major fire in Newcastle city centre.

He added: “We are working closely with local authority partners and emergency service providers and will continue to do so.”