Fire fully extinguished at hospital

More than 50 firefighters attended the blaze at Whiteabbey Hospital

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has said that a fire at Whiteabbey Hospital in County Antrim has been fully extinguished.

At its peak, more than 50 firefighters attended after the NIFRS received a call at 11:09 BST on Sunday.

Six fire engines and two aerial appliances assisted in the operation on the Doagh Road site.

A spokesperson for the Northern Trust, which runs the hospital, said the fire was in an unused building, adding that there was no impact on patient services and visiting to the hospital continued as normal.

Fire officers are no longer in attendance at the scene.

The public had been advised to avoid the area, and residents living nearby were asked to keep windows and doors closed.

Six fire engines and two aerial appliances assisted in the operation

Whiteabbey Hospital provides care for patients requiring rehabilitation or further assessment following an acute hospital admission.

'Well developed fire'

Paul Morrow said firefighters had "worked very hard" to extinguish the fire

Paul Morrow, a group commander in the NIFRS, said crews had been faced with a "well developed fire" on the ground and first floors of the building when they arrived.

He said that the fire was "down the end where there are a couple of derelict buildings".

He added firefighters had "worked very hard".

"We are always very thorough with our post-fire checks to make sure it doesn't reignite or spread," he said.