Scotland's iconic art school gutted in major fire

One of Scotland's most iconic buildings Glasgow School of Art has been gutted in a major fire, nearly four years after it was partially destroyed by a smaller blaze.

More than 120 firefighters and 20 fire engines sped to the scene to tackle the blaze spread to nearby buildings overnight.

The building, designed by celebrated architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the heart of the city of Glasgow, went up in flames.

No casualties have been reported, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said today.

The blaze spread to nearby buildings, including the Campus nightclub and O2 ABC music venue, which suffered "extensive damage". All nearby properties in Glasgow city centre were evacuated as a precaution.

Efforts to bring the fire under control are expected to be "prolonged", Deputy Chief Officer Iain Bushell said.

He said in a statement: "This is an extremely challenging and complex incident, but the response and professionalism of our firefighters have been exceptional.

"The fire has taken hold several properties including the 02 ABC nightclub causing extensive damage. This will be a prolonged incident and crews will remain on the scene as they work to prevent further fire spread and damage".

The School of Art is located in a busy area of the city, one that is popular with students and tourists.

It is surrounded by bars and nightlife spots which were packed on Friday night.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter: "This is clearly an extremely serious situation. My first thoughts tonight are for the safety of people but my heart also breaks for Glasgow's beloved @GSofA (Glasgow School of Art).

"Once again, we are indebted to the bravery of our firefighters and other emergency services".

The building was undergoing restoration after being damaged by a fire in May 2014. The building, built between 1897 and 1909, was due to reopen in 2019.

The restoration project, which was set to cost between 20 million and 35 million pounds, had been returning the famous art school to its former glory.

But the "extensive" fire is reported to have spread to all floors of the building, including the multi-million-pound restoration work.