Blaze rips through 250-year-old hotel in Linlithgow

A HISTORIC hotel has been destroyed after a fire engulfed the building while guests were sleeping.

• Flames burst from the historic hotel which is a major landmark in Linlithgow

The blaze at the Star and Garter hotel in Linlithgow began in the laundry room about 7am yesterday and quickly spread, forcing five guests to flee as some 60 firefighters battled the flames.

The hotel was built around 1759 and features a black and white Georgian facade. It celebrated its 250th anniversary last year and was a well known local landmark.

Train services between Edinburgh and Glasgow were disrupted for several hours as the town's railway station was closed because of its proximity to the building.

Flames were seen bursting from the roof and top floor windows shortly before the roof and part of a chimney collapsed.

Large billows of smoke continuously erupted from the building while firefighters tacked the blaze.

Douglas Barr, 54, was a hotel guest who was left wearing odd shoes in his hurry to escape from the building.

He said: "The fire alarm went off around seven and everyone was wondering whether it was a false alarm or the real thing.

"However the lights went out and there was the smell of smoke so everyone just put on jackets and came downstairs. There wasn't a proper evacuation as such we just got up and got out.

"My belongings were obviously in there, my laptop and my phone but they are gone now."

Many commuters were delayed by the fire as Linlithgow's train station serves both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Lucy Richards, 18, a Glasgow Caledonian University student, saw the roof and chimney collapse.

She said: "At about 9:30am there was a big puff of smoke and then huge flames were coming out of the roof then there was a loud crash and the side of the building collapsed."

Linlithgow's high street was cordoned off to the public with no access to numerous businesses as well as the town's iconic Linlithgow Palace.

The structure of the hotel caused problems for the fire services fighting the blaze.

Peter Heath, Lothian and Borders fire and rescue service area manager, said: "The thick walls of a building this old allowed the fire to build up and become very intense. The crews were faced with a well developed fire upon arrival and they were not able to gain access to the second floor which allowed the fire to spread to the roof.

"There has been significant damage to the building and I would imagine it will be out of commission for some time."This was a very serious fire and we are very lucky everyone managed to get out unhurt."

Emma Riddick, 40, a local resident, said: "It's a real shame that this has happened. It was such a lovely old building."

And Helen Brown, 68, added: "The flames were sky high. It was quite frightening."