Chester le Street

News / UK and world by Press Association April 3, 2018, 1:11 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Brazen thieves stole the front end of a Vauxhall Corsa while it was parked outside the driver’s house. It was the latest example of the so-called Corsa Cannibals phenomenon where criminals strip entire parts from the popular hatchback’s bodywork. They struck overnight between Good Friday and Easter Saturday in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, removing the bonnet, grille and lights from a silver Corsa. The thieves smashed the front passenger window, leaned in to pop the bonnet open, then unscrewed the front of the car to leave the engine exposed. A mechanic said it could have taken as little as 10 minutes to steal – all done while 45-year-old driver was asleep in his home, just yards away. He said: “I could not believe my eyes when I saw it. “My neighbour saw it first and she rang me to tell me the … [Read more...] about ‘Corsa Cannibals’ strike again

Sixty people were evacuated from their homes on Saturday morning amid fears of an explosion after gas cylinders were found at the scene of a nearby fire. Emergency services were called at 3.37am to the blaze at Rollalong Hire Limited, a portable accommodation company on Penshaw Way, in an industrial estate in Birtley, Chester-le-Street. A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "A number of gas cylinders were found at the scene and a 300 metre cordon put in place." He said that the cordons were scaled down after 7am and some of the residents were allowed to return to their properties. A number of roads in the area were closed and people working at the estate on Saturday were advised to contact police on 0345 6043043 for more information. … [Read more...] about 60 evacuated in gas cylinders scare