Wilmer Road, Heaton, garage now under Crown Estate's juristiction

The former mechanics business on Wilmer Road, Heaton, has been unused since its owners died more than three years ago.

The property, which is also at the site, has been left unoccupied and has a number of cars, which were previously on sale, in its driveway behind its main gate.

Two men, Derek Foster and Clive Newton, ran businesses alongside each other at the site until they died within two months of each other.

Mr Foster died in November 2018, while Mr Newton died suddenly a few weeks later in January 2019.

Councillor Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton) outside the abandoned garage and house on Wilmer Road

Following the dissolution of Claude Newton Limited, the property was brought to the attention of the Government’s Bona Vacantia team, Latin for vacant or unclaimed goods and who deal with unclaimed estates, in March 2021.

The site was then passed to the Crown Estate in September last year and is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Bona Vacantia team, the Telegraph & Argus has learned.

Mr Foster ran the Lamonts Garage mechanics side of the business at the site and rented off Mr Newton.

Meanwhile, Mr Newton sold new and used cars at the property from his firm, called Heaton Garage