A HUGE cloud of black smoke could be seen across the North-East yesterday after a major fire at a scrapyard.

The plume of thick smoke billowing into the sky over Newcastle could be seen from as far away as Redcar and the Scottish Borders.

The fire started at the former Shepherd’s Scrapyard, in Albion Road, Byker, which has been taken over by Ince Ltd, at 12.25pm.

The owner of a furniture business across the road from the blaze said he could feel its heat through his office wall.

Dan Rose, the 28-year-old owner of design firm Raskl, said: “The scrapyard wall is 15ft high and we could see flames coming over the top.

“We heard the occasional bang and saw bottles and cans flying in the air.

“Inside my office I could feel the heat through the wall. The internet is not working. We think the fire might have melted the cable.”

Tyne and Wear Fire Service said 70 firefighters dealt with the blaze and 14 fire appliances were at the scene, including two specialist aerial ladder platforms.

Water was pumped from the River Tyne using a kilometrelong high-volume hose.

A spokeswoman said: “Our control room has been inundated with calls about the incident and we would like to thank the public for their vigilance.”

Police warned people to close doors and windows to protect them from the smoke, but said no one was thought to have been injured.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Local businesses and residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed as a precaution because of the thick smoke.”

Leighton Street and Byker Bank between Northumberland Terrace and Ouseburn Road, east of the city centre, were closed.

Yesterday afternoon, the fire caused a national stir on the social networking site Twitter, becoming the most discussed item of news.

Amy Jones, a shop assistant from Walker, said: “The whole of the East End of Newcastle was under a shroud of smoke.

“It looked like the world was coming to an end. It was pretty frightening.”