A MASSIVE blaze caused chaos yesterday as it ripped through a warehouse.
The fire at the Bonded Warehouse, on Newcastle's Quayside, forced the evacuation of the exclusive Copthorne hotel opposite.
Sixty firefighters battled the blaze, and city centre traffic was brought to a standstill and two stations on the Metro rail network had to be closed.
Smoke from the blaze, which broke out at 10.45am, could be seen from miles away.
Fire crews brought the blaze under control, but girders and beams could be seen falling from the roof. Cars parked nearby had to be sprayed with water to stop them catching fire.
A fire brigade spokesman said: "There is a possibility that the building will collapse as it has a timber frame.
"As yet we are unaware of the cause of the fire."
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