Port's warehouse roof to be removed after fire

The roof of a warehouse which caught fire at a port is to be removed to ensure the building is safe.

The fire broke out at a tenanted building at Tyne Dock, South Shields, on Wednesday, but work is still being carried out to ensure the fire does not reignite.

The Port of Tyne said the building's roof and contents would be removed to ensure the "smouldering components" were fully put out and prevent another fire.

"Moving the contents of the warehouse and cooling them is the safest and most expedient way of eliminating that risk," a Port of Tyne spokesperson said.

Work to removed the roof and the building's contents started on Thursday and is expected to take several days.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said it was classing the incident as a "smouldering fire" and activity at the site could create clouds of smoke to reappear.

It advised residents to keep windows and doors closed until the fire was fully extinguished.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but the fire service said it would investigate once the fire was put out.

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