With the fire under control and fire crews beginning the long task of assessing the damage, here's a summary of today's very gloomy events:

• A major fire has torn through Glasgow School of Art's famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh building, a landmark in the city and considered one of the nation's most beautiful architectural creations.

• The extent of the damage remains unclear, but witnesses who saw the scale of the fire believe the entire west wing of the building has been lost, including Mackintosh's famous library and the Hen Run, a glazed corridor running along the roof.

• No one was hurt in the fire, although firefighters said they helped a number of people to leave the building.

• Apart from the enormous damage to the building, begun in 1897 and voted by Riba members the best building of the past 175 years, many students are likely to have lost work, including end of degree portfolios. Students said the deadline for some to finish their work had been 5pm today.

• There is as yet not indication as to what caused the blaze. Some students said it started in the basement, but there is not confirmation of this.



• The Scottish government has expressed its dismay at the fire, and promised to offer whatever restoration assistance is needed.

