Eleven rescued after fire in Leith block of flats

The fire broke out in a block of flats in Leith Walk

Firefighters rescued 11 people from a block of flats in Edinburgh, following an early morning blaze.

Crews were called to the scene in Leith Walk after the alarm was raised at about 01:10.

People were helped from the building by ladder after heavy smoke blocked the common stairwell.

Seven women and two men were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation at the scene, and two other men were taken to hospital.

Staff from the Bier Hoose pub let residents in to shelter from the cold and be treated by paramedics.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews extinguished the blaze and left the scene at 03:35.

Ms Rowley was evacuated from a first floor flat

One of the people rescued by fire fighters was former Labour MP Danielle Rowley who had been at a friend's flat on the first floor.

She said: "We were all chatting and my friend's dog started barking and then shortly after the smoke alarms were going off.

"We tried to get out down the stairwell but the smoke was too thick.

"We gathered by the window, some of my friends could get across to the roof of a shop on the ground floor but I stayed and was rescued on the ladder."

Ms Rowley, who was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, said the experience was "scary and surreal" but said the response from the emergency services was "brilliant".