Eighteen people have been evacuated by firefighters following a blaze in a block of flats which police believe was started deliberately.

Fire crews were called to the scene in Rannoch Road, Perth, at 3.26am on Saturday to a report of a fire in the common close.

The 18 people, thought to include eight children, were handed to paramedics as some were suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.

The blaze was extinguished by 4.14am.

The incident is being treated as suspicious and a joint investigation will be carried out by police and the fire service.