United Kingdom - Fire rews battled for more than three hours to control a massive blaze at a Masonic Hall in Glasgow. The fire engulfed the roof of the building yards from the busy West End Retail Park in Crow Road. It's understood two workmen carrying out repairs to the hall may have accidentally sparked the inferno.

More than 25 firefighters from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue tackled the blaze, which raged from more than three hours Neighbours raised the alarm at around 1.20pm when flames were spotted shooting out of a section of the roof.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It's a miracle the fire didn't spread because it looked like the whole building was going to go up at one point."

Residents living in a tenement backing on to the building, in Ardery Street, were prevented from returning home as a safety precaution.

Staff at an office block, used by Harlequin Leisure Group, were also evacuated at the height of the fire yesterday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "Enquires into the cause of the fire are at an early stage but it's not being treated as suspicious.

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

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Written by Evening Times; Glasgow