Man hurt in suspicious pub blaze

Several fire crews battled the pub blaze on Monday morning

A fire which destroyed a pub in Aberdeen and left a man hurt is being treated as suspicious.

The emergency services were called to the Copper Beech, in Auchinyell Road, at about 0230 BST.

A 31-year-old employee, who was thought to have been sleeping in the building, was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke.

At its height, 16 firefighters were involved in tackling what was described as a "dangerous" blaze.

A joint police and fire service investigation is being carried out.

Three appliances and a height vehicle were involved in tackling the fire.

'Well alight'

The building, in the Garthdee area of the city, had a metal roof which Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said contained the heat, helping the flames to spread.

Alan Fleming, of Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, told BBC Scotland at the scene: "When the crews arrived here the building was well alight.

"There was a considerable amount of heat and flames.

The Copper Beech was destroyed in the fire

"It was far too dangerous to allow fire crews enter so we took up defensive positions and have been attacking the fire from outside."

He confirmed: "One person was taken away to hospital."

It is understood his condition was not life-threatening.

Grampian Police Det Sgt Norman Stevenson said: "Everything appeared to be in order when the premises closed at 11pm last night.

"The fire was reported around 2.30am and we are keen to hear from witnesses who saw people or vehicles in the vicinity between those hours or heard anything unusual."

House-to-house inquiries are being carried out in the area and police appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

The road, which had to be closed for much of the day, causing traffic problems, later re-opened.