Council chiefs have dispatched additional pest control teams to Garnethill after reports of 'displaced' rats as a result of the Glasgow Art School fire.

It is feared rodents have sought new shelter as drains in the area filled with water during the massive firefighting operation on Friday night and the early hours of Saturday.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: "We understand there are reports of rodents in the area and it is likely they have been displaced as drains fill with water during the firefighting operation.

"As it becomes clearer where they are being displaced to, we are putting additional pest control resources into the area to get on top of that situation."

The council has faced criticism for its response to the fire with many residents claiming there has been a lack of information.

But Cllr Aitken said the council's resilience team worked with staff from the Health and Social Care Partnership and Cordia to establish a rest centre at the Mitchell Library in the early hours of Saturday morning.

She added: "Temporary accommodation was arranged for a those evacuated by the emergency services and that remains in place.

"However, we are conscious that there are people who initially made their own arrangements, or who may have been out of the city at the weekend, who could still need advice or temporary accommodation."

Tenants are being urged to contact their landlords.

Owners can get help from GCS Homelessness Service.

Call the North West Team on 0141 276 6168 during office hours and 0800 838 502 out-of-hours.

The council has also vowed to help businesses affected by the blaze.

Cllr Aitken said: "Our Business Support team has spent the day contacting as many businesses as they can to assess and understand the challenges they are facing.

"In many cases, the immediate problem is access - which unfortunately is unavoidable while the emergency response is ongoing.

"However, there is a process by which businesses who are in an exclusion zone can apply for a zero rating on business rates, for the period in which they can't operate.

"I'm encouraging anyone in that position to apply - and our officers will be able to give advice on how to do that."

The council also confirmed it is setting up a taskforce to manage all aspects of the recovery.

It can be contacted via email at businesssupportglasgow@glasgow.gov.uk or 0141 276 5333.

The blaze has shocked and saddened people in Glasgow and beyond including leading figures in the worlds of art and music.

Singer Annie Lennox tweeted: "So sad and disappointed for everyone affected by this 2nd devastating fire... (who would believe??!!) at Glasgow's historic and renowned Charles Rennie Mackintosh art school. .. the renovators, students, staff, alumni, noble fire fighters and everyone in Glasgow."

Experts have estimated the cost of rebuilding the gutted Mackintosh Building would be at least £100m, if anything can be salvaged at all.

However GSA bosses said they remain hopeful of a positive outcome for the Mackintosh Building.

Scottish Government ministers and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) chief executive Alex Paterson met with Glasgow School of Art officials on Monday to discuss the situation and offer ministers' "full support".

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "A multi-agency group of conservation experts has been established to advise on short and longer term issues.

"This group, which includes HES, will continue to play a vital role in the weeks and months to come.

"We are at a very early stage, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service still working at the scene.

"Once a detailed assessment has taken place we will be able to assess any structural, engineering or other work required."

Meanwhile, Labour MP for Glasgow North East Paul Sweeney, who is director of the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, said that having been escorted round the building by SFRS, it is clear the interior is almost entirely lost but the main structural beams appear to still be largely intact, giving hope some of it can be saved.