A MASSIVE blaze broke out at the site of a £100-million university development last night.

At its height, more than 60 firefighters were needed to deal with the incident on the former Warner Bros cinema site in Falconer Street, off New Bridge Street, Newcastle, which is being transformed by Northumbria University.

Tyne and Wear fire and rescue service said the fire involved the new three-storey student university building at the City Campus development.

Roads were blocked and people were kept away from the scene as the flames were tackled.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said the incident was reported shortly before 10pm.

Police initially sealed off the area before the arrival of the fire and rescue service. A total of 13 fire tenders, one command and support unit and associated appliance, two aerial ladders, an operational support unit and a special rescue tender were among those at the scene.

There were no reports of injuries.

Group Manager Paul Curran, of Tyne and Wear fire and rescue, said: "When crews came on scene they were faced with the whole of the building being alight. Because of the wind conditions, the fire spread to four or five other premises and we have had to deal with them as well.

"The structure that was initially involved was 100 per cent destroyed."

One eyewitness, Northern Echo reporter Neil Macfarlane, who lives nearby, said: "I could see what looked like a bit of an explosion. I live off New Bridge Street and I could hear the helicopters outside the window, fire engines and sirens.

"I looked towards town and could see smoke and all the flames. I thought it was the new university accommodation buildings. If it had been that could have a been a real tragedy."

He added: "There was one chopper, God knows how many Panda cars and several ambulances. The building, which looks like a partially built apartment block opposite the brand new university campus, was completely encircled by fire engines."

Another witness, Andy Day, a former firefighter from Northampton staying at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead, said: "We were going for a walk after dinner and we could see the flames from the other side of the bridge."

Dave Gallon, from Arthurs Hill, Newcastle, saw the blaze from his window.

"We came from the other side of town. We live on the 12th floor. I could see it from our kitchen window," he said. "It looked like the centre of town was on fire."

Mr Gallon said he could see the Earl Grey monument in the centre of Newcastle lit up by the flames.

"I thought it might have been Eldon Square on fire," he said.

Early reports of a gas explosion could not be confirmed at time of going to press.