See the shocking extent of damage to Jarrow auction house following blaze

Ten appliances and two special appliances were called to the fire on Bede Burn Road in Jarrow around 2:30am today, with 44 firefighters spending hours bringing the fire under control.

The road was closed while emergency services worked however Northumbria Police has confirmed it has now reopened.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "At about 3.15am today police received a report of a fire at the Park Methodist Church Hall on Bede Burn Road in Jarrow.

"Officers attended the scene to assist Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service with their operation and a cordon was put in place.

"A nearby building was evacuated as a precaution however, no-one is believed to be in the building affected by the fire and there are no reported injuries."

Mark Gerrard, Group Manager, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue service said: “In the early hours of this morning ten appliances and two special appliances were called to a significant structural fire that took place in a former church in Jarrow.

"The church is currently being used as an auction room, obviously this is a serious structural fire and we are currently still on site, thankfully there have been no reported injuries.

"I would like to take this opportunity to praise all our operational crew who attended and all the emergency crews who helped to restrict the spread of the fire to only the building of origin.

"A thorough investigation will commence today depending on the structural safety.”