A new hub has been set up to help families displaced by the Benwell explosion, after a huge outpouring of support from a grieving community.

Locals forced out of their homes as a result of the deadly blast in Violet Close earlier this month are being invited to the nearby Cornerstone Community Centre to pick up clothes, furniture, toys, toiletries and other essential items donated by kind-hearted residents and businesses since the harrowing incident.

Seven-year-old Archie York and 35-year-old Jason Laws were killed in the explosion on October 16, the cause of which remains under investigation, while dozens of neighbours have had to leave their houses in the aftermath and stay either in hotels or with family and friends.(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

As Newcastle City Council bosses work to help families either return to their homes when it is safe to do so or move into alternative accommodation on a longer-term basis, affected households can now head to the Cornerstone site on Armstrong Road to pick out what items they need as they try to rebuild almost two weeks on from the traumatic explosion.

The donations will then be boxed up and delivered by volunteers and council staff working out of the West End hub.(Image: LDRS)

City council leader Karen Kilgour said: “The outpouring of love we have seen at this extremely traumatic time has been incredible. To see the community coming together in support of those who are grieving, those who are recovering and those who have been displaced is a credit to our city and I’d like to thank both local people and businesses for their kind and generous donations.

“The needs and welfare of those affected remain our absolute priority and, as we support people into new homes – on either a temporary or permanent basis – we are both providing essential items and working with community organisations to distribute the huge numbers of donations to those who need them.”(Image: LDRS)

Anyone who wants to make a donation to the cause is now being asked to do so by purchasing Eldon Square gift cards, which can then be used to buy specific items that affected families need.

Gift cards for households affected by the Violet Close tragedy can be purchased via the Eldon Square customer services desk near Fenwick, John Lewis and Boots or online at eldonsquare.co.uk/gift-cards, with people asked to send them to the delivery address ‘Violet Close, Eldon Square, Newcastle, NE1 7JB’.

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Amy Sturdy, operations manager at the Cornerstone Community Centre, said: “The support from the local and wider North East community has been heartwarming and we want to thank everyone who has helped to support the residents of Violet Close.(Image: LDRS)

“We have received amazing donations of clothing, toiletries and children’s books and toys and we are working tirelessly to sort them so we can get them into the right hands as quickly as possible.”

Six others were taken to hospital following the explosion, one of whom was seriously injured and remains in hospital.(Image: LDRS)