PUPILS at an Ayr secondary school were left outside after an early morning fire at the art department.

It is understood that the blaze orginated in the balcony area of Belmont Academy before 8am this morning.

The fire service were in attendance.

An eyewitness said: "It started between 7.30am and 8am.

"One geography class and two PSE class rooms have been damaged as a result of the fumes traveling down from the art department.

"Noone was allowed back in the art department because of the fumes but none of the work or those class rooms have been destroyed.

"When we arrived at school everyone was standing outside. The teachers were allowed back in at 9am and the pupils 9.15am.

"We then sat in the hall for another 20 minutes before we got back into our classrooms."

The school sent a text message to parents to make them aware of the situation. 

A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 7.58am on Wednesday, June 20 to reports of a building fire.

“Operations Control mobilised two fire engines to Belmont Road, Ayr, where firefighters were met by a fire which had taken hold within the third floor.

“There are no casualties.

“Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”