FORTY-THREE people were evacuated from a Metro train on Tyneside yesterday after a power cable failed.

Passengers, including four disabled people, nine adults with learning disabilities, a baby who needed oxygen and several elderly people, became stuck between Jarrow and Hebburn at about 11.10am.

Fire and rescue crews and Nexus maintenance staff were called. They used a rail cart to take some of the passengers to a nearby Metro station.

Others were escorted up the embankment and helped over a fence to the road.

A Nexus spokesman said: "The problems we have had are due to the extreme heat. One of the cables expanded and lagged and became damaged. Our priority was the safety of our passengers and we got them off very quickly."

Workers last night assessed the damage.