Major Fire Guts Historic Edinburgh Building

Firefighters battled a major blaze that broke out in the early hours at a B-listed former Debenhams store on Princes Street.

The building was deemed too unsafe for crews to enter, and the fire service warned that the age of the structure increased the hazards.

The incident caused significant disruption in the city centre, with road closures and warnings to avoid the area.

The Fire Brigades Union warned that Scotland's fire service could not withstand further budget cuts.