Europe’s largest timber structure set on fire

Arsonists have badly damaged what was thought to be Europe’s largest timber structure, police have said. The fire took hold at Dunston Staiths in Gateshead, which opened in 1893 to allow Durham coal to be dropped into boats on the Tyne below.

The alarm was raised at 2.30am yesterday with fire crews, including a fireboat, working through the night. It reignited later in the morning.