Seven-year-old-boy killed in ‘devastating explosion’ in Newcastle

Explosion and fire in residential Benwell and Elswick area destroyed house with six people also taken to hospital

A seven-year-old boy has died after what was described as a “devastating explosion” destroyed houses in a residential street.

Northumbria police confirmed that a child had died and six people were taken to hospital after a large fire in Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday.