Residents of a South Ayrshire estate were forced from their properties earlier today as a blaze ripped through their building.

The fire started in the bin store at the Argyle Park flats in the Wallacetown area of Ayr around 1.50pm today (Wednesday, December 1). 

Residents rushed out of the burning building as fire crews attended the scene, and those in nearby buildings were also evacuated due to the dense smoke in the atmosphere produced by the fire.

Emergency crews have not said that anybody was injured at this stage.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 1.51pm on Wednesday, December 1, to reports of a fire affecting a bin store at a ground floor property at Argyle Park, Ayr. 

“Operations control immediately mobilised three fire engines to the location and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire. 

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