Newburn flood-damaged flats: Demolition begins
Demolition work has begun at a block of flats left close to collapse by flooding in Newcastle.
A stone platform has been built to allow heavy machinery to access Spencer Court in Newburn.
MGL Demolition is carrying out the work on behalf of developer Dunelm Homes. It is expected to take about two weeks.
Families were moved from their homes after the building's foundations were washed away when a culvert collapsed on 25 September during flash floods.
An excavator with a reach of 34m (about 110ft) is being used to dismantle the building in a "safe and controlled way", MGL said.
The roof of the four-floor, eight-flat complex has been removed.
Nancy Blake, who lives in evacuated flats behind Spencer Court, said most residents did not want to watch their homes being flattened.
She said: "I've been out of my flat for months and watching this is heartbreaking.
"The residents watched their flats being built in 2006 and now just six years on they are coming down.
"People never thought they would be demolished so there are a lot of possessions still inside.
"It has been very stressful - I've done everything I can to dry out my property to move back in. I was about to move back in then the floods hit again in September."
MGL Demolition managing director, Mark Davison, said workers would try their best to salvage residents' possessions.
Brian Manning, executive director of Dunelm Homes, said: "I'm shocked that apartments we built such a short time ago are having to come down it circumstances out of our control."
Residents of the eight flats are currently in temporary homes.
Neither Northumberland Estates, which owns the land where the culvert stands, or Dunelm Homes have admitted liability for the situation.
About 40 million litres (8.7m gallons) of water was pumped out of the estate after the downpours.