One of Scotland's most historic properties described as "the glory of Fife" was devastated by fire last night causing damage which will run into more than £1m.
Leslie House, a five-floor 37-bedroomed mansion which is being restored and renovated was well alight late last night with 70% of the roof destroyed.
Some 50 firefighters in 10 appliances were sent from all over Fife to deal with the blaze in the A-listed building near Glenrothes, also known as the Palace of Leslie.
The fire service had nearly 30 calls from 7.30pm about the fire in the former Church of Scotland nursing home, said to be one of Fife's biggest blazes in the past few years.
Police are expected to launch an investigation into the cause after the fire is brought under control, Fife Constabulary said.
"I think we are going to be there for most of the night," said a Fife Fire spokeswoman. "They have five floors of the building fully involved in the fire so it looks like it could well be gone.
"It could be seen from all over Glenrothes. It is on top of a hill so people have talked about seeing a big glow in the sky."
A number of roads had been closed by police in Glenrothes and Leslie in the immediate vicinity of the building.
"It is going to take them some time to get this fire under control and deal with it before we get to any investigation," said a Fife Constabulary spokesman.
Developers have been working on a £3m renovation of the dilapidated property which was built between 1660 and 1670 for John Leslie, the first Duke of Rothes, who was Lord Chancellor of Scotland in the reign of Charles II.
Controversial plans to convert the interior of the 30,000 sq ft mansion into 17 luxury flats were approved a year ago. There were also to be 12 houses built in the 26 acres of grounds.
It is not the first time in its history that Leslie House has been gutted by fire.
Three sides of what was originally a quadrangular mansion built in the style of Holyrood Palace were burnt down in 1763 and the fourth, when repaired, became as the present house.
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