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A seven-year-old boy died at the scene after an explosion in a residential street in Newcastle.

Superintendent Darren Adams of Northumbria Police said six others were taken to hospital “with varying injuries” after the blast and subsequent fire in Violet Close.

A number of others were evacuated from their homes after emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 1am today.

A spokesman for Northern Gas Networks said its engineers are on site and it is “supporting the emergency services during this ongoing incident”.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lynsey McVay, from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said six flats had been “badly affected, two of which suffered the main brunt of the explosion”.

The blast tore through a row of six properties divided into two flats each.

Emergency services at the scene inNewcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

Drone footage shows how six flats in the middle of the building appear to have been completely destroyed by the explosion and fire, while piles of debris could be seen on the street outside.

Ms McVay told reporters that all fires have now been extinguished and firefighters continued to search the buildings to ensure that all persons are accounted for.

A fire service van marked “search dogs” was parked near the scene in the Benwell area of the city.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Adams has said an investigation into the cause of the blast is under way.

Pic: Yappapp
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Pic: Yappapp

The scene at Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Pic: PA
Image:
The scene at Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Pic: PA

He added that a cordon was likely to be in place “for some time”.

The superintendent told reporters: “It is with great sadness that I stand in front of you today following the tragic death of a young child.

“As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.

“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene.

“This is a truly devastating outcome.

“I have no doubt that the people of Elswick and Benwell, and our wider region, will want to join me in extending their thoughts and condolences to family and friends. The loss and pain they must be suffering is unimaginable.”

He added: “Inquiries are still at a very early stage and in the coming hours and days, we will continue to piece together what has happened so we can provide answers to the family as well as the wider community.”

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Superintendent Darren Adams, of Northumbria Police, speaks to the media .
Pic: PA
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Superintendent Darren Adams, of Northumbria Police, speaks to the media . Pic: PA

Meanwhile, vehicle recovery workers have taken away several damaged cars away from the scene on low-loaders.

A family friend of some of the victims said there had been a “devastating explosion”.

Andy Riches, a safety steward at Newcastle United, has set up an online fundraiser in aid of the occupants of one of the homes affected.

He is friends with the grandfather of a couple with two children who live in one of the flats, and said: “They have lost everything.”

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England’s new manager Thomas Tuchel quizzed on whether he will sing national anthem

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England's new manager Thomas Tuchel quizzed on whether he will sing national anthem

Thomas Tuchel has told a press conference he has not decided yet whether he will sing the national anthem before England games.

The 51-year-old German made the admission as he was quizzed by journalists after being officially unveiled as the men’s team’s new head coach.

It comes following a row over current interim manager Lee Carsley, who represented Ireland as a player, after he announced he would not sing God Save The King before Three Lions matches.

Tuchel described the song as “very moving” but said: “I have not made my decision yet, I want to be very honest with you.

“I will always show my respect to my new role, to the country, and of course to a very moving anthem, but… I will take a little bit of time for this decision.”

The Football Association revealed during the briefing on Wednesday that it had considered around 10 candidates for the role, which Tuchel will take up in 2025.

The governing body’s chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We interviewed approximately 10 people, we interviewed some English candidates within that. You wouldn’t expect me to divulge any more than that.”

When asked if any of them turned down the opportunity, he replied: “Clearly some were more up for the role than others. But we were absolutely delighted to end up with Thomas.”

Mr Bullingham added: “We believe he gives us the best chance of winning the World Cup so we believe we got the best candidate for the job.”

FA CEO Mark Bullingham during the press conference.
Pic: Reuters
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Mark Bullingham. Pic: Reuters

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In an earlier video message to fans, Tuchel said he was aiming for a “second star” on England’s shirt – which can only be achieved by winning the World Cup.

Speaking from Wembley Stadium, he added: “I’m quite a bit nervous, this is my first message as England head coach.

“There is a reason to be a bit nervous, I think it is a good thing. I can promise I am very excited and very honoured.

“We will do everything to qualify for the World Cup and then try to get the second star on our shirt.”

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New England boss shares message with fans

During the press conference, Tuchel was also asked by Sky Sports if the England job would be his biggest challenge yet.

He replied: “I understood very quickly that it is a big job… it feels big and it feels like a privilege.

“It is very new because I come from club football, but it is also very exciting.

“Once it was made clear to me that this job is about football and I made up a timeframe in my mind from January to the World Cup I felt excited, and it suited my passion and my strive to push this group of players.”

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German fans react to Tuchel appointment

The former Chelsea boss also said he hoped to win over sceptical fans who believe the Three Lions should only be managed by an Englishman.

He said: “I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country… no matter what [my] national passport says I am.”

Tuchel told Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris he believed England had the “ingredients” to win a first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.

He also declined to say if Harry Kane, who he managed at Bayern Munich, will remain England captain, saying it was “too early to answer these kinds of questions”.

Tuchel’s contract lasts for 18 months and was signed last Tuesday, the FA also revealed.

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Two children among five dead in M6 crash

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Two children among five dead in M6 crash

Five people, including two children, have been killed in a crash on the M6.

The two-car collision involved a Toyota and a Skoda and happened on the northbound motorway, past Tebay services in Cumbria, at 4.04pm on Tuesday, police said.

Four people – a man, a woman and two children from Glasgow – who were travelling in the Toyota were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Skoda driver, a man from Cambridgeshire, also died in the crash.

Cumbria Constabulary said a third child in the Toyota was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with serious injuries.

The crash occurred on the M6 between J38 and J39
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The crash occurred on the M6 northbound, past Tebay services in Cumbria, on Tuesday afternoon

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A stretch of the M6 northbound between J36 and J39 was closed following the crash but reopened fully in the early hours of Wednesday.

A force spokesperson said: “The families of those involved are being supported by specially trained officers.”

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End-of-life care must be fixed before any assisted dying legislation, charities say

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End-of-life care must be fixed before any assisted dying legislation, charities say

Three and a half years ago, Tim Daly was given just a few months to live. Born with learning disabilities, he later developed cancer, which kept returning.

Despite being very sick, Tim can still live at home with his mum Valerie, because of support from his palliative care nurse Phoebe Mooney.

“It’s really sad to see him deteriorate,” Phoebe says during a visit to Tim.

Tim Daly, who lives at home with his mother Valerie
Image:
Tim Daly, who lives at home with his mother Valerie

“When I first started seeing him he was independently mobile in his wheelchair. He would take lots of videos. He’d be super, super chatty.”

It is clear Tim and Phoebe share a special bond, but working in such an emotionally demanding role can be challenging.

“I’m not going to lie, I do cry quite a lot at work,” Phoebe says. “Particularly when things don’t go so well, which they don’t at times.”

Phoebe Mooney, Tim's palliative care nurse
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Phoebe Mooney, Tim’s palliative care nurse

Tim’s mother Valerie Daly is 82 and says she wouldn’t be able to keep Tim at home without the support she gets from St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, southeast London, where Phoebe works.

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“I couldn’t do this without them,” she says. “It’s just knowing that there’s somebody there. Somebody who cares. Somebody who knows Tim.”

The support Valerie and Tim get is far from guaranteed across the UK.

As MPs consider legalising assisted dying, with a bill being introduced to parliament today, the quality of the country’s end-of-life care is being questioned.

“It’s really important we’re talking about funding for hospices at the same time,” says Jan Noble, the director of quality and innovation at St Christopher’s.

Jan Noble, the director of quality and innovation at St Christopher's Hospice
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Jan Noble, the director of quality and innovation at St Christopher’s Hospice

“Because people need to know that they’re going to get the right symptom control and support if they are approaching the end of life. And actually it’s not all about assisted dying.

“People are fearful because at the moment hospices throughout the country haven’t got the adequate funding, which means care can be a postcode lottery.”

St Christopher’s Hospice neither supports nor opposes a change in the law, but the hospice sector is a strong voice in the debate.

Residents at St Christopher's Hospice
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Residents at St Christopher’s Hospice

Hospices rely on charity to survive, with the government providing only around a third of their funding.

The sector has concerns about whether the health system could cope with the additional pressure that assisted dying would bring.

“While it’s not for us to take a view either way, what we would say is that this is a very fundamental change to consider introducing into a system which is already under really significant stress,” says Charlie King, deputy director of external affairs at Hospice UK.

Charlie King, deputy director of external affairs at Hospice UK
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Charlie King, deputy director of external affairs at Hospice UK

“We’ve got hospices who are cutting back their services already, making frontline staff redundant, because they’re no longer able to fund those services.

“Whether or not assisted dying is introduced by this government, we must fix the end-of-life care system in the UK,” he said.

“This government has inherited huge challenges in the hospice sector, as well as a £22bn black hole in the public finances, so these problems will take time to fix,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said.

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“Whilst the majority of palliative and end-of-life care is provided by the NHS, we recognise the vital role voluntary organisations including hospices play in providing support to people at end of life and their families.

“We are determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.”

Lynda Browne, 59, has experienced the best and worst of end-of-life care.

Lynda Browne, whose mother and aunt had very difference experiences of palliative care
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Lynda Browne, whose mother and aunt had very difference experiences of palliative care

Her mother died peacefully and comfortably at a Marie Curie Hospice, but her aunt Mary chose to die at home and Lynda was devastated by the lack of care she received.

“We had to buy her incontinence pads, we had to buy different creams because the deliveries weren’t regular or there was nothing available or you couldn’t get through,” she says.

Lynda's aunt (sitting) and mother who both received palliative care
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Lynda’s aunt (left) and mother who both received palliative care

“We had to chase everyone for everything and it’s just so tiring all the time having to fight.”

It’s a problem palliative care doctors say needs to be urgently addressed.

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“We only get partial funding from the NHS,” says Dr Sarah Wells, medical director for the Marie Curie Hospice West Midlands.

“We’re having to rely on fun runs and bake sales and our charity shops to raise money to provide great end-of-life care for people.”

Marie Curie, like St Christopher’s and Hospice UK, has a neutral position on assisted dying.

“We need to be talking about death, dying and bereavement,” says Dr Wells. “What we’re not neutral on is the need for sustainable funding.”

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