Homes found for people forced to move after blast

Homes have been found for all residents evacuated from their street after an explosion, which killed two people.

Seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, 35, died in the blast in Violet Close, Benwell, Newcastle, on 16 October.

Newcastle City Council said 140 people had either returned home, moved into new council properties, or were in temporary housing while repairs were carried out.

Three people were arrested and bailed as part of the Northumbria Police investigation, which is continuing.

The explosion ripped through the centre of the terraced block of flats during the early hours.

The Labour-led council said work was under way to demolish the homes destroyed during the blast, after the site was handed over to the local authority by police.

People living in neighbouring properties will be unable to return home until work is completed, which is expected to be in early 2025.

Paula Maines, the council's housing lead, said: "This has been an incredibly difficult period for a huge number of people, not least those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, with all residents suffering severe disruption to their lives.

"I must give huge credit to residents for the way they have conducted themselves with such integrity during an experience nobody could have been prepared for."

The council said it was unable to conduct surveys to assess the full scale of damage to properties while crime scene investigators and other regulators were on site.

Maines added: "There's still some way to go and of course the impact of what took place here can never be forgotten, but we look forward to helping residents return to some sense of normality and independence in their lives as quickly and safely as possible."

Three men - two in their 30s and one in his 50s - were arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter and the production of a Class B drug, namely cannabis.

They have been released on police bail pending inquiries.

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