Demolition begins after fire

Workmen set about demolishing the buildings

Work has begun to demolish buildings destroyed by fire in the historic Old Town area of Edinburgh.

The blaze, which started on Saturday evening, destroyed buildings in the Cowgate area and caused damage estimated to be worth millions of pounds.

Edinburgh City Council said clearance work will continue into the new year with the operation completed by Easter.

Fire ravages historic city centre
Click here to see pictures of the area

A city council spokeswoman said all demolition will be restricted to daylight hours, and the waste material will be damped down to minimise dust.

Traffic routes via South Bridge and Cowgate will be closed for some time.

A former outdoor clothing shop in South Bridge was the first to be demolished on Wednesday afternoon by workers operating from two steel cages.

The cages were hoisted level with the top of the five-storey Victorian building by two 30 metre-high cranes.

We have 3D images of all the buildings so that what comes down can be recreated if we choose to do so

Council leader Donald Anderson

The council said work on the buildings was being carried out in a "painstaking fashion" to protect the flats opposite which were undamaged by the fire.

However, a group of conservation experts is questioning the decision to go ahead with such an extensive demolition.

Ben Tindall of the Ancient Buildings Protection Society said: "Our concern is that the grain of the city will be lost and we will end up with poor materials that don't age properly - and that a core part of the Edinburgh World Heritage Site will be devalued."

Council leader Donald Anderson replied: "Aspects of these buildings will be preserved.

"We have 3D images of all the buildings so that what comes down can be recreated if we choose to do so.

The cause is yet to be established

"But we have got a huge public safety issue."

Experts who are trying to discover the cause of Saturday night's blaze are continuing their investigation.

Police and fire brigade Investigators began their inquiries on Tuesday after being given access to the badly damaged properties.

The emergency services said there was as yet no indication as to the cause of the blaze.

About 13 buildings in the World Heritage site were destroyed, including the world-famous Gilded Balloon comedy club in Cowgate.

Benefit gig

A spokesman for the club said that a benefit gig will take place in London to raise funds for the venue.

Top names including Alistair McGowan, Ronni Ancona, Steve Coogan, Rich Hall and Daniel Kitson will be performing at London's Piccadilly Theatre on 19 January.

The spokesman said: "The Gilded Balloon outwith the festival is an office block so there were about nine businesses which were affected.

"Profits will be split evenly between the Gilded Balloon and them."

Scotland's culture and tourism minister Mike Watson is expected to visit the site in the next few days.