Blaze dampens Mother's Day treat

The blazing Bonded Warehouse is in danger of collapsing

A Mother's Day lunch treat for almost 190 guests at a Newcastle hotel on Sunday has been cancelled because of a fire in a nearby building.

More than 50 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze at the Bonded Warehouse on the Quayside on Friday.

All guests at the Copthorne Hotel opposite the blaze had to be evacuated. The blaze, which has since been put out, caused roads to be closed and disrupted trains. Fire crews said the building had been severely damaged.

Steve Deaken, manager at the Copthorne, said the hotel would be closed until Monday but that five alternative venues had been found so guests could still enjoy Sunday lunch.

He is still trying to find alternative accommodation for 250 guests with reservations for Saturday night.

Hotel closed

He said: "Everybody is settled for tonight and we have found space at five different venues for all those who were coming for Mother's Day.

"If the warehouse had collapsed it would have fallen onto us, so after talking with the relevant authorities the company decided to close the hotel until Monday.

"Luckily no-one was hurt during the entire incident."

Fire officers were expected to be at the scene for at least another 24 hours.

The Close on the Quayside has also been closed to all traffic from the High Level Bridge to Skinner burn Road.

At the height of the blaze, which left a cloud of smoke hanging over the city, Metro stops at Monument and Central Station were closed, with trains passing through but not stopping.