Firefighters spend four hours tackling blaze at school

Fire crews spent four hours battling a blaze at a high school in Edinburgh which has left it ‘heavily smoke damaged’.

Scottish Fire and Rescue were alerted to reports of a fire in Wester Hailes Education Centre shortly after 8pm on Friday, with crews remaining on scene until shortly after midnight.

A spokeswoman for the service said seven engines were sent to tackle the fire, which was traced to a cupboard in the school.

On Saturday morning, she added: “The building has been ventilated and is heavily smoke damaged.”

No casualties or injuries have been reported.

Oskar Czapkiewicz, a former pupil at the school, said: “The fire looked really severe. I got there when they were just opening the door.

“The fire has been tamed and it’s under control. There’s a lot of damage.

“I was devastated, and the fact that my little brother still goes to the school and the exams are just around the corner.”

Wester Hailes Education Centre is the former school of Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray, who launched his campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party at the school in January.

It also hosted education secretary John Swinney last month, as he gave a speech outlining plans for a review of the Scottish curriculum to a group of headteachers and education figures.