A blaze that tore through a former Ayrshire school building is being treated as deliberate.
Flames ripped through the historic Crookedholm building on Sunday night with six fire engines roaring to the scene on Grougar Road.
No one was injured in the blaze and police say the fire was wilful.
The building appears to have suffered a huge amount of damage with council officials undertaking 'emergency works' to secure the devastated site against entry.
Further work will be carried out to determine the extent of any demolition work and/or structural repairs, building experts confirmed.
Fire crews were still at the scene more than 18 hours after the fire broke out.
Councillor Barry Douglas said on Sunday night that he was sad to hear of the blaze and hoped the building could be saved.
Mr Douglas added: "A sad day for Crookedholm with the old school on fire this evening.
"I’m sure almost everyone in the village and those further afield who went to the school will be sad to hear this news.
"I’ve been up to the school with area commander Ian McMeekin and his firefighters are doing the best possible job to save what they can of the building.
"Speculation as to how this fire started is already spreading but I would urge anyone with any information however small or insignificant it may seem, to contact Police Scotland Ayrshire rather than speculate on-line.
"Thankfully no-one has been hurt or injured but it is likely fire fighters will be on-site through the night to ensure the blaze is out.
"I really hope this 148-year old listed building can be saved however it is too early to say what could be salvaged."
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 5.54pm on Sunday, May 14 to reports of a derelict building fire in Crookedholm, near Kilmarnock.
"Operations control mobilised six fire appliances to Grougar Road, where firefighters were met by a well-developed fire involving a two-storey building.
"Firefighters extinguished the fire and worked to make the area safe before leaving the scene.
"There were no casualties."
A council spokesperson added: "Following a request from Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, building standards attended the site of the former school house at 54 Grougar Rd, Crookedholm on the morning of Monday, May 15, 2023. Given the extent of the fire damage, Building Standards have been required to instigate emergency works under statutory powers afforded to them by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to secure the site against entry.
"Building standards will continue to liaise with the building owner and further exploratory work will be required to determine the extent of any demolition and/or structural repair works given the extent of the fire damage."
Police said: "Around 6.30pm on Sunday, 14 May 2023, police received a report of a fire at a disused school in Grougar Road, Crookedholm.
"SFRS attended and extinguished the fire which police are treating as wilful.
"There was no-one injured as a result of the fire."
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