'Total silence' as flames like molten lava spark from smouldering Station Hotel
Shocking images have revealed the intense fire burning within the Station Hotel.
A dramatic image has shown the intense blaze which has ripped through the Station Hotel in Ayr.
Red hot flames have been spotted smouldering inside the building behind the protective white covering as holes are starting to appear.
The scenes have been likened to lava, with the intense fire ravaging the historic building with embers flying out from the top.
Fire crews are still attempting to tackle the blaze more than three hours on from when they were first called.
Residents looked on in horror as the iconic hotel had gone up in flames around 5.30pm this evening.
A crowd of around 100 are still gathered in "total silence" as they watch the Victorian Era hotel crumble in front of their eyes.
Ayrshire Live reporter Stuart Wilson has told how police have moved a cordon around the site, as they have evacuated the crowd to across the road on Station Bridge.
Commenting from the scene Stuart said: "You see the red hot flames burning behind the white covering, there's holes starting to appear.
"The heat is so intense it looks like molten lava coming out from the top - it is quite incredible to see.
"People are just standing in shock looking on. It's a sad night for the town as an iconic building burns to the ground."
Video footage has emerged from earlier which show the huge emergency response, with fire crews and police all stationed at the scene as locals watched on.
A clip also shows a helicopter circling above the building, but it not known if this was related to the fire.
Earlier Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed they had sent 13 appliances to deal with the inferno.
A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: "We were called at 5.37pm to reports of a fire at the Station Hotel, on Smith Street.
"We received a further 67 calls regarding the fire. We currently have 13 appliances at the scene."
Police Scotland have confirmed they are in attendance.
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