Hotel evacuated after debris fall

Huge chunks of masonry crashed to the ground

Dozens of people have had to be removed from an Edinburgh hotel after part of its roof collapsed.

Emergency services were called to the Cairn Hotel in Windsor Street following reports of falling debris.

Lothian and Borders Police cordoned off the area to allow building experts to inspect the damage.

Lothian and Borders Police said no-one was thought to have been injured in the incident, in which a section of masonry below the roof collapsed.

There was a tremendous noise - we thought some big stones had fallen off the truck A witness

The 52-bed Cairn Hotel is made up of five terraced two-storey properties.

One witness across the road said part of the roof at the front of two of the buildings had collapsed, bringing down masonry and rubble on to the pavement.

The woman said: "There was a tremendous noise - we thought some big stones had fallen off the truck.

"Part of the hotel's roof collapsed, bringing down some of the masonry below it.

"Blocks landed on the balcony and brought some railings down.

"There is rubble all over the pavement."

A miracle

She added: "It is a miracle no-one was walking by at the time, or that no cars were damaged."

It is not known how many people were inside the hotel, which is thought to be a one-star establishment, at the time.

Properties either side of the damaged buildings were evacuated while surveyors checked the damage.

Police also cordoned off the street while investigations continued.

Four units from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue were standing by at the scene.