Eight people have been taken to hospital after a BMW crashed into a care home during a police chase.
Officers had been pursuing the car after it was reported stolen from a property in Fenham, Newcastle, at around 9.20pm last night.
It was later spotted travelling on the A1231 in Sunderland and at 9.40pm it smashed into Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack.
Eight residents were taken to hospital but there injuries are not life threatening.
Photos show a massive hole in the building’s brickwork that will now need to be filled in.
Police say the building was evacuated as a precaution while temporary accommodation was provided for staff and residents.
Carol Wilson, the wife of one of the evacuated residents, said the entire top floor had caved in.
‘It [the car] hit the home and we got a call at 23:10 hearing about the damage. I couldn’t believe my eyes, the whole top floor has caved in,’ the 66-year-old from nearby Roker told the BBC.
Mrs Wilson said that her 76-year-old husband Kenneth was evacuated at 1am and has now been taken to another care home in County Durham.
‘The thing for me now is getting him moved closer to home as I can’t drive to Durham,’ she said.
‘But I want to stress how brilliant the staff have been, I can’t thank them enough.’
A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and theft of a motor vehicle.
A second man, also 21, was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hall, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘We’re working closely with our blue-light partners, as well as the local authority and NHS colleagues, to support those involved.
‘I’d like to thank them for their assistance in ensuring the safety of all residents and staff.
‘Our officers remain in the area with other agencies to carry out enquiries and offer reassurance to the public.’
Care home operators Avery Healthcare said: ‘The safety and well-being of our residents and staff is our absolute priority and we continue to work closely with the relevant authorities.
‘Residents have been moved to alternative accommodation where their care continues without interruption.
‘We would like to express our sincere thanks to the carers and colleagues across our neighbouring homes who have stepped in to support at this time.
‘Their professionalism, dedication, and compassion in ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of care has been truly commendable.’
A North East Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We received a call at 9.41pm on Wednesday 9 July to reports to a vehicle colliding into a premises in the Whitechurch Road area of Sunderland.
‘We dispatched three emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer, a clinical team leader, three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), our tactical advisor, our tactical commander, and two crews from our patient transport service (PTS) to the scene.
‘We assisted with the evacuation of residents at the property and eight patients were conveyed to hospital.’