OVER 50 firefighters fought to try and save a historic hotel after a blaze ripped through the building.

The fire spread inside the upper floors of Darroch Learg on Royal Deeside - gutting the rooms of the 130-year-old property.

Flames ripped through the pitched roof from the attic space as fire crews struggled to contain the blaze. They were left fighting the flames with breathing apparatus and hose reel jets after the Aberdeen division's turntable ladder engine broke down en-route.

The fire was still burning last night over four hours after the alarm was first raised as another turntable ladder was sourced from another division.

The building was evacuated and the Scottish Ambulance Service reported that there were no casualties.

However, the A93 Ballater to Braemar road at the hotel was closed and diversions put in place.  

SFRS Group Manager David Meldrum, who was co-ordinating 56 firefighters at the scene, said: "Crews have fought the fire well, both internally and externally, and have worked hard to contain it to the second floor and the roof space of the building. The fire has burnt through the roof.

"There are no injuries and all members of the public have been accounted for. The owners were in it initially - they were all out of the hotel quickly, before the arrival of the service. 

"We will have crews here until we are sure that all pockets of fire have been extinguished."

It is understood the hotel had been undergoing a refurbishment.