Ayr station hotel fire: Commuters hit as blaze burns through night

Rail services have been disrupted after a fire broke out at the former Ayr Station Hotel for the second time in four months.

Emergency services are dealing with the blaze and ScotRail said it did not expect it would be able to run trains to and from Ayr on Tuesday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the alarm was raised at the building in Smith Street at 17:37.

A spokeswoman said 13 appliances were originally sent to the scene.

Crews were still tackling the blaze at 06:30 on Tuesday but the operation had reduced to three pumps and two high-reach vehicles.

She added that no injuries had been reported.

It is understood one crew with an aerial appliance travelled more than 35 miles from Castlemilk, Glasgow, to assist local firefighters.

The building's distinctive turret is ablaze and large plumes of smoke can be seen billowing from the roof.

BBC Scotland reporter Martyn Smedley, who was at the scene, said: "You could see an orange glow through the wrapping which surrounds the building.

"A large amount of flames and sparks could be seen blowing from the top of the building.

"You could also see the smoke from Ayr bypass and smell the fire from around half a mile away."

He added that a large number of onlookers had gathered at the scene.

ScotRail said Glasgow Central to Ayr services would start and terminate at Kilwinning, while Ayr to Stranraer services will start and terminate at Girvan.

The operator has requested buses for passengers affected by the disruption, which included a service which was stopped outside Kilwinning for more than an hour.

One passenger reported that she had been stuck on a service outside Kilwinning for more than a hour.

ScotRail later confirmed the disruption would continue into Tuesday and added that it was in the process of arranging replacement transport.

Two teenagers were charged after a previous fire at the hotel in May.