Clear-up begins after firefighters work through night at travel agent blaze

A large blaze which swept through a city centre building is not being treated as suspicious, fire chiefs have said.

The fire is believed to have broken out at Thomas Cook on Hanover Street just after 3pm on Thursday and the smoke plume could be seen around the city.

After spreading into the roof of the travel agent, it also spread to a two-storey building at the back which houses the New York Steam Packet restaurant. Flats and offices above the shop suffered smoke damage.

At one point, around 60 firefighters were battling the flames and support staff were also on the scene.

The shop and surrounding properties were evacuated and no injuries were reported.

Group Commander Colin Bruce, of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed on Friday the fire is not being treated as suspicious, but added it was too early to say what could have started the blaze.

More than 24 hours after the blaze began, he confirmed that fire crews have now left the scene. Fire investigation teams are, however, continuing their work at the site, along with insurance officials.

Mr Bruce said: "The fire service has handed it over to the police now. Other than fire investigation, we're finished with the incident."

He added that council officials surveyed the building and found it to be "structurally sound", meaning it will not need to be demolished.

Properties surrounding the fire were evacuated at the time, but people have now been allowed to return. Traffic in the area is also "back to normal".

Mr Bruce said: "It's been a pretty serious fire. It certainly stretched our resources until we were able to bring in resources from the outlying areas."

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