Edinburgh shoppers have been warned to stay away from the city centre on Monday afternoon as emergency services continue to battle a fire at the old Jenners building.
Dozens of fire engines are at the scene along with police and the ambulance service.
Edinburgh police have urged people to leave the area as emergency services attend the scene. Buses have been diverted.
READ MORE - Edinburgh Jenners LIVE: updates as firefighters tackle blaze at iconic store
Stores and businesses near Jenners have closed as TK Maxx on South St David Street told Edinburgh Live that they have closed and customers have been evacuated.
An Edinburgh Live reporter on the scene said there was smoke pluming out of the left side of the building onto South St David Street.
The surrounding roads have been closed off to traffic and pedestrians. North and South St David Street, St Andrew Square, George Street at St Andrew Square, and Rose Street have been closed to traffic. Some pedestrian diversions are also in place in the vicinity.
A statement from Edinburgh police said: "South St David Street, Edinburgh, and a number of surrounding roads, have been closed to traffic and pedestrians following a building fire. Please avoid the area if possible and follow directions regarding alternative routes."
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "The Scottish Ambulance Service is currently in attendance at a fire in the former Jenners building on Princes Street, Edinburgh, alongside The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland. We received the call at 11.49hrs and have dispatched 14 resources to the scene.”
Marks and Spencer and the Mercure Hotel, in Princes Street, have been closed as firefighters work in the neighbouring former department store, and some buildings have been evacuated.
"I work at one of the businesses nearby and I nipped out for lunch and tried to get in but we have been evacuated," one worker said.
"I was aware of the sirens and it was one of my team that said Jenners was on fire. The building's beautiful. It's such a beautiful piece of architecture, it's such a shame, especially with it shutting down and lying kind of empty."
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