Following a fire at a block of flats in Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning to landlords and tenants not leave combustible materials in communal areas. The fire broke out in a common close at the two-storey block in Blairgowrie.

Graham Smart, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager, said: "This incident highlights the dangers associated with leaving combustible materials in common closes. "If items are left near doors then escape routes can be blocked and on this occasion we had to help residents out using a ladder, as their normal escape route had been compromised. "There is no doubt the fire escalated due to the fact that combustible materials had been stored in the close. This practice is something Scottish Fire and Rescue Service actively discourages."

Four flats were affected by heavy smoke logging and residents had to be provided with emergency accommodation due to the severity of the fire.