PASSENGERS were evacuated from a Metro station after fire broke out below ground.

Fire broke out in the ceiling of the busy Monument station in Newcastle shortly after 12.30pm.

Four appliances were sent to the scene to extinguish the fire, while all passengers were asked to leave the station.

The station remains closed two hours later.

A Metro spokesman said: “Monument Metro stations remains closed to passengers. The incident has been caused by a small electrical fire in a roof void.

“There has been an orderly evacuation of the station and nobody was in any danger.

“The fire brigade remain on site along with Nexus engineers who are checking the station over before it can be reopened.

“Metro trains are still operating through Monument but they are not stopping there. The rest of the system is operating normally.”

Group Manager Keith Carruthers, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "I would like to thank Nexus and the public for their co-operation in helping us to tackle the fire.

"Thanks to the swift actions of the fire crews they were able to limit the spread of the fire."

An investigation is now being carried out to determine the cause of the fire.