Roads shut for weeks as police probe building fire
Frank StylesPolice investigating a building fire say they have closed roads while they make sure no-one was in it at the time.
Villiers Street and Coronation Street in Sunderland would be shut for multiple weeks following a blaze on the street corner on 24 June, Northumbria Police said.
The force said initial checks to make sure no-one was inside the property had been carried out, but it needed to be made safe enough for more detailed searches as the property's structural integrity had been severely damaged.
Det Insp Rachael Rutherford said the investigation into the fire was still at its early stages and the two roads were being shut "to ensure the safety of everyone involved".
She acknowledged the disruption the road closures would cause and thanked residents for their "continued patience and support."
Rutherford said anyone with information about the fire should contact police.
"Our priority is to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident," she said.
