Homes demolished after flooding

Work has begun to demolish a housing development which was wrecked by last month's devastating floods.

The roof was ripped off homes in Spencer Court, Newburn, Newcastle, after water ripped away material around the foundations, leaving them exposed.

Experts decided the homes, which were only built seven years ago, were too unsafe to be saved, and have spent the last weeks making the site safe for demolition.

The process could take a fortnight, as workmen will try to save any possessions that residents have had to leave, if it is safe to do so.

Brian Manning, executive director of Dunelm Homes which built the properties, told Sky Tyne and Wear: "What we are trying to do is pick away at it very slowly.

"It is a very sad day. I am sat here as a developer thinking here we are demolishing a block of apartments we only built seven years ago."