Huge fire at frozen food factory

Staff were evacuated from the blaze which took three hours to extinguish

A Tyneside factory has been damaged after a huge blaze ripped through it.

Six appliances, 36 firefighters and a high rise platform were used to douse the flames at the Findus food factory in Longbenton.

Crews tackled the fire from the roof using the aerial ladder platform and went inside the building wearing breathing apparatus.

All staff were evacuated from the premises and it is unclear how much damage has been caused.

Group manager Dave Brown at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: "This is a substantial fire which has occurred in the plant room of the factory.

"The crews did an excellent job tackling what was a difficult fire.

"We do not know at this stage what has caused the blaze, which is now under investigation."