The motorway through Newcastle remains closed following a fire in the city centre last night. 

Emergency services were alerted to the fire in the building in Carliol Square, in Newcastle, at about 6.45 pm, with smoke from the huge blaze seen for miles.

Now, the Northbound carriageway of the A167(M) Central Motorway, is closed until further notice. The closed section stretches from the A186 Swan House Roundabout underpass and A193 New Bridge St.

Police and the fire service have "strongly advised" that commuters research their journey to work, and try to avoid the road. 

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Delays to travellers are expected throughout the city centre, with traffic already busy from Swan Street, across Tyneside Bridge, and to Swan House Roundabout. 

Dozens of fire fighters tackled the huge blaze last night, which was tearing through a disused Newcastle City Centre building on Carliol Square. 

Several appliances from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were at the scene along with officers from Northumbria Police, who closed off the central motorway northbound from Tyne Bridge. 

Members of the North East Ambulance Service were also in attendance.

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) spokesperson said: “We have a significant presence at a large fire at a disused building in Carliol Square in Newcastle City Centre this evening.

“Our Fire Control received a call reporting a fire at the large, unoccupied former commercial building at around 6.44pm today. Our first appliance was on scene in just five minutes.

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“In total, eight appliances and two Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) vehciles are on scene to help bring the fire under control.

“Our colleagues at Northumbria Police are supporting us on scene and the Central Motorway has been closed northbound from the Tyne Bridge with diversions in place.

“This is in a prominent area in the city centre but we would ask businesses and properties in the area to keep their doors and windows closed due to the level of smoke.

“We will update you with more information as we can but please avoid the area if possible.”

The road is expected to remain closed well into the morning.