Probe set into town centre blaze

A joint investigation involving police and Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service is due to begin into the cause of a blaze at a former nursing home.

Fire crews were called to Caledonia House in Callander, Perthshire, in the early hours of Sunday after reports of fire at the unoccupied property.

The blaze resulted in the town's main street and the A84 being closed to traffic for several hours.

No-one was injured in the fire which has destroyed the building.

The property, which had served as a small residential home, was undergoing refurbishment at the time of the blaze.

Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service said it received up to 30 calls from people reporting smoke and flames at the three-storey block, just after 0100 BST on Sunday.

More than 35 firefighters attended the incident which also caused surrounding buildings to be evacuated.

The A84 was reopened about 12 hours after the fire first broke out.

Drivers of HGVs and coaches had been sent on a long diversion but cars had been able to bypass the town.

A spokesman for the brigade said it had been necessary to partially demolish the building in order for an investigation into the cause of the blaze to begin.

He added: "We are currently awaiting confirmation that the structure is safe. As soon as this has been done we will commence a joint investigation with police."

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