Six in hospital after flat blaze

Fire crews are concerned about the state of another building

Six people, including two children, have been taken to hospital following a fire at a flat in Edinburgh.

Emergency services were called to the blaze in a four-storey terrace at Great Junction Street in Leith shortly before 1100 GMT on Monday.

An area at the east end of Great Junction Street was closed off when part of the gable end of the building collapsed.

Police said the casualties were two men, two women and two children.

Eight Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service units were called and electricity, gas and water engineers were also required at the scene.

Witnesses said they saw smoke billowing from the windows of the top floor flat.

Completely destroyed

They said the flames quickly took hold and by 1145 GMT the gable end had collapsed.

A large number of fire, police and ambulance personnel remained at the scene following the blaze.

The roof of the flat had been completely destroyed.

Eyewitness Peter Swanson told the BBC Scotland news website that he saw firefighters entering the building wearing breathing apparatus.

Mr Swanson, licensee of the Gladstone bar which is opposite the flats, said: "We saw firemen knocking on the windows to see if there was anyone inside.

"They came out with some of the people and they were taken away in ambulances. The fire took hold very quickly."

No further details were available on the casualties.