Eight properties were evacuated as a crane fire caused explosions to echo around a Northumberland town.
Smoke billowed across the skies above Rothbury on Tuesday morning as the community was woken by the sound of the explosions.
Residents displaced by the blaze were moved to rest centres, and emergency services have confirmed nobody was injured in the incident.
Photographer Jason Spiller, 46, heard the explosions on Town Foot at around 7.25am.
He said: "There were smaller explosions which could have been the tyres of the pneumatics, and then there was an almighty bang.
"I thought it was gas cylinders at first. There were several smaller explosions initially and I saw the smoke.
"There were several bystanders and I could not get to the road as it was blocked off. There were people stood on the riverside watching.
"It was just the one vehicle from what I could see. When I left the fire was pretty much out, it looked under control."
Footage from the scene show debris strewn across the road, and the B6341 is currently closed.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed two crews from Pegswood and Rothbury were dispatched to the scene.
Northumberland County Councillor Steven Bridgett helped assist residents at the scene, and confirmed assessments for smoke and structural damage will be carried out shortly.
He added: "Nobody knew what it was at first.
"The first I was aware of it was the explosions, there was three or four and that was the wheels blowing off the vehicle.
"There's damage to some of the properties along Armstrong Cottages. It has blown a number of windows out.
"One of the big wheels has come through a wall. The crane has actually sunk into the road.
"Everyone is fine, a little bit jittery as there are a lot of elderly residents there."
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area and they are being diverted along the B6342.
A fire service spokesperson said: "Our crews are currently dealing with an incident in Rothbury where a mobile crane has been on fire.
"Eight properties have been evacuated with residents now in rest centers. All parties are safe and well.
"Please if possible avoid the area."
Northumbria Police confirmed the force is currently assisting the fire service at the scene.
