Buildings in an Edinburgh city centre street have been evacuated as fire crews deal with a blaze at the Thomas Cook building in Hanover Street.

The alarm was raised at about 15:00 and about 30 firefighters are still tackling "pockets of fire" at the scene.

Traffic diversions are in place in the surrounding area including Princes Street and George Street.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said it was no-one was injured.

It said the fire had spread into an extension to the rear of the building and there was also damage to offices and residential properties two storeys above.

A spokesman said: "This is a large incident for us. We have evacuated all the buildings and it appears that everyone is accounted for.

"It is causing a large amount of traffic mayhem at the moment."

He said officers were continuing to put out "pockets of fire" and were investigating exactly where the blaze had started.

"Around 30 officers remain at the scene and are fighting the blaze in a two-storey outhouse at the rear of the Thomas Cook building," he said.

"It's unclear if the fire may have started there and spread to the travel agent.

"There was a lot of smoke gathered in the shop and officers entered through it but investigations are continuing to establish the starting point."

A number of Lothian Bus services have been affected by the road closure; including 23, 27, 36, 41, 42, 45 and 67.

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