UPDATE 5.20PM PRINCES STREET HAS REOPENED WITH USES AND TRAMS SET TO RESUME NORMAL SERVICE.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, Princes Street was closed to traffic between Frederick Street and South Charlotte Street due to a large fire.
Numerous emergency services vehicles including police cars and fire engines were in attendance outside the empty Debenhams store.
Reader Matt Donlan was on the scene:
The cause of the fire is unknown but Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has said that they will be on the scene for some time.
A spokesperson for SFRS said: “More than 30 firefighters are working to extinguish a large fire at the Debenhams building on Princes Street, Edinburgh.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 1.23pm on Monday, April 19 to reports of a fire on the ground floor of the building.
“Operations Control immediately mobilised four fire engines and an aerial appliance to the scene.
“Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the building where the fire was found to be within the ground and lower ground floor and a further four appliances were mobilised.No casualties have been reported.
“Crews remain on the scene and are expected to do so for some time as they work to make the area safe and extinguish the fire.”
Several bus services were disrupted in both directions between Charlotte Square and Frederick Street and buses were diverted via Charlotte Square, George Square and Frederick Street until further notice.
Stagecoach East Scotland posted on Twitter: “Due to an incident, Princes Street has been closed in both directions between Frederick Street and Charlotte Street. Our services are diverting via George Street and Queensferry Street; Princes Street stop PU can’t be served at this time. Delays are expected.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
