A huge fire which ripped through a garage in South Tyneside has been extinguished after 13 hours.
One fire engine remains on the scene at Wrightway Car Parts, in Rectory Terrace, West Boldon.
The fire first started at around 8.20pm on Sunday and emergency services cordoned off the A184.
Three homes and local pub the Red Lion, were evacuated as a number of fire crews started to extinguish the flames.
The blaze spread to a small row of terraced home next to the garage on Rectory Terrace, causing significant damage to the roof.
One neighbour, Tom Bell, said the garage owner lives in the house next door to the business, which has also been "gutted" by the fire.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen drifting into the sky from several miles away, and there were reports of a series of explosions at the scene.
Nobody was believed to be injured.
Nine fire engines, an aerial ladder platform, a command unit and three duty officers were sent from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service at the height of the blaze.
This was scaled back throughout the night, down to one fire engine using one pump on Monday at around 8am.
Tom Bell, who lives opposite the garage on Rectory Green, said at first he thought there had been a car crash when he heard a loud bang.
He said: "When we got to the street, obviously we saw a fire taking hold and more bangs occurred."
He added: "Fire engines had turned up and suddenly there was a whole series of very very loud bangs."
A spokesperson for the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said the garage had been "100 per cent severely damaged by the fire".
The cause of the fire will now be investigated.
There were reports from bystanders of a series of explosions, believed to have been caused by gas cylinders, including a large one at about 9.30pm.
The garage was described by bystanders as a popular local business which has been operating “for at least 20 years”.
Emma Craig, 42, said: “I live nearby and the explosion sounded like a bomb going off. It was really awful.
“It’s a local business which been here for years and it’s heartbreaking for the people who’ve been evacuated.”
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