Worst blaze in Edinburgh memory

Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon venue has been devastated by the worst fire to hit the city in living memory.

A blaze broke out last night in La Belle Angele nightclub in the alleyway behind the Old Town venue, one of the focus points of the Edinburgh fringe.

It took more than100 firefighers to bring the flames under control. Pockets of fire were still burning more than 24 hours after it first broke out at 8.15pm on Saturdau night.

Ten historic buildings have been destroyed internally and firefighters struggled to stop the blaze spreading to Adam House, the university examination halls that become C Venues during August's festival.

The Gilded Balloon was gutted with much of the internal walls and floors collapsed.

Edinburgh authorities estimate that up to 13 buildings will have to be rebuilt, at an estimated cost of £11million. An investigation has started into the cause of the blaze.

Tom Munroe, of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade told the BBC: "This was an extremely complex, widespread incident that tested the experience of all the firefighters who were there."

Firefighters had to contend with the complex network of narrow lanes and buildings of up to seven stories high, and on three streets at different levels - Cowgate, South Brigde and Chambers Street.

Published: 8 Dec 2002