GUESTS staying at an iconic Scottish hotel had to be evacuated after reports of a fire late on Sunday night.
Fire crews raced to Princes Street in Edinburgh after the alarm was raised shortly before 11pm last night.
A large crowd had gathered outside The Balmoral after it was evacuated with four fire engines and a height vehicle deployed to the scene.
Crews were able to stand down around midnight and there were no reports of any injuries.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson commented: “We were alerted at 10.53pm on Sunday, May 26, to reports of a fire within the basement of the Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, Edinburgh.
“Operations Control mobilised four fire engines and a height appliance to the scene, where crews extinguished the fire.
“There were no casualties, and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”
A spokesperson for The Balmoral said: "At 10.49pm last night the fire alarm was sounded caused by a fault in the hotel's extraction system generating smoke in the basement.
"Our guests and staff were evacuated as a safety precaution whilst the fire brigade investigated the source. The all clear was given approximately one hour later and normal service resumed."
