Firefighters have responded to reports of a “large fire” at the old Viewforth High School in Kirkcaldy this evening.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent six fire engines to the scene on Loughborough Road, Dysart, where they are working to douse the flames.

The alert was raised at around 7:30pm, and the thick smoke could be seen across the town – and as far away as Seafield.

Kirkaldy police, who are supporting fire crews at the scene, warned nearby residents to keep their doors and windows closed due to the amount of smoke billowing out of the "large fire” at the building.

Officers have shut Loughborough Road to traffic between Aitken Street and Windmill Road, and warned residents to “remain away from the area” for their safety.

It is understood that an ambulance seen at the site is there as a precaution.

Video footage from the scene shows smoke from the school building, which closed to pupils in 2016, rising into the sky over Kirkcaldy.

A fire has broken out at the old Viewforth High School building in Kirkcaldy. (Credit: Lisa May Young and Scott McCartney)

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 C-listed former school has been hit by major fires several times in the past, including twice in 2017. Earlier this year a B-listed section was torched in January.

Developers have plans to renovate it into new housing.

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.”

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Firefighters battle blaze at old Viewforth High School in Kirkcaldy