A huge fire has destroyed a large part of a hotel in Aberdeen.

The Britannia Hotel was evacuated and 90 firefighters attended after the blaze broke out shortly before 5pm on Thursday.

Around 200 people are thought to have been booked in at the time but nobody was injured.

Several of the 14 fire engines called out arrived by the Diamond Bridge, which had opened to the public only hours earlier.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deputy assistant chief officer Ross Haggart said: "The actions of all personnel involved are to be commended.

"The ferocity of the blaze and the speed with which it took hold cannot be understated.

"The initial officer in charge made the correct decision to request further assistance and to focus on establishing an evacuation whilst establishing crews firefighting."

Police Scotland and the SFRS will carry out a joint inquiry into the cause of the blaze.

Mr Haggart added: "At this stage there are no suspicious circumstances around the cause of the fire, however in all cases of a fire of this magnitude, our dedicated investigation team will be mobilised to try to establish the cause of the fire."

Witnesses reported hearing a series of loud bangs as the building burned, creating a thick cloud of smoke which was visible across the city.