One person has been taken to hospital after a large fire closed the George IV Bridge in Edinburgh.

       Images from the scene show smoke pouring from a branch of Patisserie Valerie, next door to The Elephant House cafe which was made famous as the place where JK Rowling wrote much of her early Harry Potter series.

       Members of the public are being asked to avoid the area and several roads in the city centre have been closed.

       Nine fire engines and two height appliances were sent to the scene after emergency services were called to the blaze shortly after 6am on Tuesday.

       A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call at 06.39am today to attend an incident at George IV Bridge in Edinburgh with our first resource arriving on scene at 6.46am.

       Recommended Scottish police officers and prisons still mistreating people in custody despite promises of reform, report says Many UK adults worried about burglary when they go out, says poll Toxic fumes at luxury hotel spa leave 24 in hospital

       “We dispatched two ambulances, one advanced paramedic and our special operations team to the scene.

       “We transported one patient to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.”

       Firefighters at the scene of a large fire at George IV Bridge in Edinburgh which has closed several roads in the city centre

       (Matt Donlan/Twitter/PA)

       A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “We were alerted at 6.18am on Tuesday 24 to reports of a building on fire at George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

       “Operations Control mobilised nine appliances and two height vehicles to the scene where firefighters are tackling a fire affecting a number of properties.

       “Crews are still in attendance.”

       Recommended Police not safeguarding domestic abuse victims as prosecutions collapse, watchdog finds Covid: More than 4,000 cases could be linked to Cornwall music festival Anti-vaccine-passport protesters storm ITN studios

       Police Scotland added in a statement: “Our officers are currently assisting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dealing with a large fire at George IV Bridge.

       “Please be aware that there are numerous road closures in the vicinity of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row at present and avoid the area where possible.”