Firefighters battle blaze at Jenners building in Edinburgh

Streets in Edinburgh city centre remain sealed off as emergency crews deal with a fire in the Jenners building.

Fire crews, police and ambulance staff were dispatched to the empty department store on Rose Street at about 11:30.

No casualties have been officially reported but the BBC understands a number of firefighters received treatment at the scene.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent 22 fire engines and said the fire was well-established when they arrived.

Eyewitnesses have described smoke pouring out of the basement area of the department store.

The police cordon was later extended to cover the whole of St Andrew Square. Staff from nearby offices have been evacuated.

Firefighters, police and ambulance crews were dispatched to the scene

The fire service said it deployed 22 appliances and other "specialist resources" to the scene, where crews remain.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said a number of roads had been closed in the surrounding area, adding: "Please avoid the area if possible and heed advice re alternative routes."

The Scottish Ambulance Service is also at the scene. A spokesperson said: "We received the call at 11:49 and have dispatched 14 resources."

Eyewitnesses spoke to BBC Scotland about the response of emergency services on Princes Street.

Sarah Mullins, 34, manager at Wagamama in St Andrew Square, said she first saw smoke at about 11:30.

"It got so bad we couldn't see out across the square," she told BBC Scotland.

"The police told us to stay inside because the smoke was so bad it would have affected our lungs. They said it was safer to stay inside.

"It's very sad this has happened to such an iconic building."

Paul Kelly, 63, who works as a consultant engineer in the neighbouring building, said: "At first when we were evacuated we didn't think it was a big deal.

Sarah Mullins was near the scene when the fire broke out

"There was smoke but it was nothing like it ended up.

"There was smoke belching out of the front entrance and the whole of St Andrew Square with thick with smoke."

Fellow engineer Iain Duncan, 65, was also evacuated.

"There were about 60 of us who left," he told BBC Scotland. "I've been outside now for two hours with no coat and my house keys are inside the building.

"I can see the smoke is starting to pour out of the building again."

'Crowds watch as Edinburgh landmark burns'

BBC Scotland journalist Steven Godden reports from the scene.

Smoke can still be seen coming from the Jenners building which has been sealed off by a large police cordon.

At its height flames could be seen spreading from the lower windows into the street.

Firefighters tackled the blaze with hoses while colleagues in breathing apparatus came and went from the building.

The equipment lying on the nearby pavement is one sign of the large operation by the Fire and Rescue Service with multiple police and ambulance blue lights also at the scene.

Workers from nearby offices were asked to leave and are now among the the crowds of passers by standing at the police cordon watching things unfold at this iconic Edinburgh landmark.

Founded in 1838, the Jenners building was one of the oldest department stores in the world until it closed.

It has been undergoing restoration due to take four years. Under the plan, about 10,000m2 of disused rooms in the six-storey building are due to be made into a hotel.

The current building was designed by architect William Hamilton Beattie in the Victorian renaissance revival style and opened in 1895 - after the original building was destroyed by fire in 1892.

The building was sold to private investors in 2005 after House of Fraser bought the Jenners brand and property.

It was then bought by Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen in 2017 for a reported £53m.