Police have launched an investigation after a fire broke out at a loft in Sunderland which housed a suspected cannabis farm.
Emergency services rushed to a property on Toward Road in Hendon, Sunderland shortly before 10pm last night (Tuesday, December 29), after reports of a loft fire.
Officers discovered a fire had broken out in a neighbouring loft which housed a suspected cannabis farm and although no one was injured, a number of residents had to evacuate.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service sent four appliances, an aerial ladder platform and an officer to the scene of the fire.
Northumbria Police also closed off the two parallel roads to Villette Road to keep the public away from danger.
The force has since launched an investigation into the incident in a bid to trace the owner of the suspected cannabis farm.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 9.49pm yesterday (Tuesday) we received a report of a loft fire at a property on Toward Road in Sunderland.
"Emergency services attended the scene and found a fire had broken out in a neighbouring loft which housed a suspected cannabis farm.
"Thankfully nobody was injured in the fire but a number of neighbouring residents had to evacuate their homes.
"Enquiries are ongoing to trace the owner of the suspected cannabis farm.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log 964 291220."
Local resident and photographer Nikolaos Axelis, 44, witnessed the incident and said there was a "lot of smoke" pouring from the roof of the house.
He said: "At around 11pm there was a really bad smell all over the Hendon area, it smelt like smoke.
"I arrived there and there were policemen and firemen trying to take over the fire and a lot of people were around watching.
"I don't know if they were trying to take the fire from the roof but there was lots of smoke coming from the roof.
"There were four fire vehicles and a lot of policemen probably ten or more because they closed off the road too.
"It was really bad."
In a video from the scene, firefighters can be seen using an aerial ladder to enable them to hose the roof of the property which had smoke pouring out of it.
Police also cordoned off the road with officers standing beside it to make sure people stayed away from the incident.
