A massive blaze in Dundee city centre left a reptile shop owner facing an anxious wait to see if his animals had survived the ordeal.
Businesses and flats in Princes Street were evacuated around 6pm on Friday after a fire started in a single-storey building in a yard at the rear of The Weavers’ Tavern function suite.
The blaze spread into the roof space of the building and sent smoke spiralling into the evening sky.
Ben Christie, who lives in one of the affected flats, said: “I was just sitting watching television when I looked out the window and there was nothing but smoke.
“I ran out into the close and called the firies but they were already on their way.”
Marc Garty, the owner of shop Just Right for Reptiles, had to wait for more than an hour before it was safe enough for him to enter his shop to check that his animals were unharmed.
“I was phoned and told about the fire so came down,” he said.“There’s a lot of old rubbish at the back so the fire could have stared there.”
After a wait of more than an hour, Mr Garty was finally able to check his stock.
“There was a lot of smoke but the reptiles all seem to be OK, although I will have to check again later,” he said.
The fire came just a week after his shop was flooded by an upstairs neighbour.
Station Manager Graeme Nicoll from Scottish Fire and Rescue said the cause of the blaze was “doubtful” and is under investigation.
Three appliances attended the incident and Princes Street was closed to traffic while fire crews used a hosereel to put out the flames and check for hotspots.