9am Briefing: Fire rips through old council building

Around 30 firefighters battled the blaze – which has gutted the derelict former social work building on Victoria Place – using breathing apparatus and four high pressure hose reels.

The fire, which broke out in the single storey 40m x 20m building, started at 12.15am last night and crews were still at the scene this morning.

"Small pockets" were understood to be still burning.

Four pumping appliances and three specialist appliances were in attendance. Building control is also assessing the damage following the partial roof collapse.

HEALTH bosses in Edinburgh have vowed to investigate the possibility that medical staff here leaked details of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's sick son.

Fraser, who was born at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in 2006, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after.

Mr Brown revealed yesterday that this information was obtained by the Sun, whose then editor Rebekah Brooks contacted him to say they would be running it the following day.

He added that he had no idea how they would have come across such sensitive information, but that it moved him and wife Sarah to "tears".

NHS Lothian's medical director Dr David Farquharson and the country's health secretary Nicola Sturgeon have urged those who know of any leak to come forward. But the tabloid today insisted the information was handed to it by a member of the public.

FREE tickets to the Fringe Festival will be made available to Edinburgh residents under new plans to encourage more locals to engage with the event.

The Cheaper Fringe for Locals scheme will be launched during the festival in August, with those living in an EH postcode offered exclusive two-for-one ticket offers for dozens of shows.

So far, more than 10,000 locals have signed up to the free scheme via the website – www.cheaperfringe.com