A large fire in Edinburgh has led to the George IV Bridge in the city centre being closed, with the smoke believed to have damaged a famous cafe.

It broke out at a branch of Patisserie Valerie this morning, next door to the Elephant House cafe where JK Rowling wrote much of her early Harry Potter series.

One person has been taken to hospital after the blaze, which firefighters responded to at 6.18am.

Images from the scene showed smoke pouring from a building with emergency services on scene.

More than 60 firefighters tackled the blaze with 12 fire engines and two height appliances sent out.

Members of the public were being asked to avoid the area if possible and advised to keep their windows shut due to smoke.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We received a call at 0639 hours today to attend an incident at George IV Bridge in Edinburgh with our first resource arriving on scene at 0646.

‘We dispatched two ambulances, one paramedic response unit and our special operations team to the scene.

‘We transported one patient to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and treated one patient at the scene.’

Incident commander, SFRS deputy assistant chief officer David Farries, said on Tuesday evening: ‘This is undoubtedly a complex and challenging incident.

We are currently in attendance at a large #fire at George IV Bridge #Edinburgh. The alarm was raised at 6.18am. Nearby residents advised to keep windows & doors closed. Road closures in place. See @EdinPolSE & @edintravel for traffic advice and please avoid the area #edintravel pic.twitter.com/qloOsO7Shf

‘I would like to thank our crews as they work to extinguish the fire. I would also like to thank our emergency services colleagues and local authority partners.

‘We will remain in attendance for a considerable time yet as we work to contain the fire.

‘We continue to ask people living nearby to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.

‘Road closures remain in place and we advise people to avoid the area and to allow access for emergency service vehicles.”

Police Scotland said in a statement: ‘Our officers are currently assisting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dealing with a large fire at George IV Bridge.

‘Please be aware that there are numerous road closures in the vicinity of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row at present and avoid the area where possible.’

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