Six teams of firefighters race to scene

A major fire has broken out at a former school in Kirkcaldy.

Emergency services are on the scene at the old Viewforth High School in Loughborough Road – and local residents have been warned to keep their windows closed.

The alert was raised earlier this evening and the thick smoke could be seen across the town – and as far away as Seafield.

Kirkcaldy Police have said that Loughborough Road, between Aitken Street and Windmill Road is closed while firefighters tackle the blaze.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 7.28pm on Saturday, August 15 to reports that a fire had taken hold within a building. Operations Control has mobilised six fire appliances to Old Viewforth High School in Kirkcaldy and crews are presently working to contain and extinguish the fire.”

Local resident Nathan Bennett said: "I'd noticed our street was busier than usual with traffic, but didn't think anything of it until I saw the police. I went outside and the sky was filled with smoke, and walked around the corner to see a huge crowd of people watching the blaze, it was massive."

The former school has been hit by major fires several times.

There were two earlier this year, and, in 2017, a major blaze broke out sending smoke billowing high across the town’s skyline.

More to follow.