Boy, seven, dies as 'devastating' explosion hits Newcastle homes

A seven-year-old boy has died after a "devastating explosion" destroyed houses in a residential street in Newcastle in the early hours of yesterday.

- Mark Brown

Northumbria police confirmed that a child had died and six people were taken to hospital after a large fire. Footage on social media showed flames billowing into the night sky, while drone pictures later showed emergency workers sifting through the rubble of the houses.