These dramatic images show firefighters tackling a massive blaze following a suspected arson attack at a landmark North Tyneside building where local music legend Sting used to practise.
Crews spent nearly six hours battling the fire at the former Buddle Arts Centre in Wallsend at the weekend.
And the striking pictures from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service show close up how the crews drawn from Byker, Gosforth, Newcastle Central and Wallsend Community Fire Stations, fought the flames at the Grade II-listed building where Sting once fine tuned his talents before becoming a music superstar.
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TWFRS was called to the building on Station Road just before 7pm on Saturday following a 999 call.
The incident at the Buddle – which closed as an arts centre 14 years ago and is being transformed into a £2m community centre and business exchange - is being treated as suspected arson, and a Northumbria Police investigation is underway.
Firefighters were at the scene six minutes after the initial emergency services call was received.
A TWFRS spokesperson said: “Our Fire Control Team dispatched four fire appliances and an aerial ladder platform from Byker, Gosforth, Newcastle Central and Wallsend Community Fire Stations.
“Firefighters made a forced entry into the property as the fire focused on the single storey section of the derelict building.
“Our crews left the scene at 12.10am on Sunday morning after a five-and-a-half hour incident.
“The fire is currently being treated as suspected arson, and a police investigation is ongoing.”
The Buddle was originally a school built in 1876 before being turned into a community arts centre in 1981 where it hosted plays, music and exhibitions.
It is named after John Buddle, a well-known mining engineer and manager of Wallsend Colliery in the early 19 th Century.
It is a huge part of Wallsend’s heritage.
