A fire caused major damage to a primary school building in Inverness yesterday.
Firefighters were called to Balloch Primary School just before 11am amid reports of smoke coming from a classroom.
Three appliances and a lifting platform attended the Culloden Road school and the fire service personnel had the blaze under control by 11.45am.
A spokeswoman for the service said that part of the single-storey building suffered fire damage, and almost all of it was smoke damaged.
She added last night that there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the blaze.
The school was expected to be closed to all pupils today as a result of the damage.
Culloden and Ardersier councillor Glynis Sinclair said: “I was heading into town when I saw the fire engines.
“There is nothing very much anyone can say until we know what happened.
“I guess the only thing we can be grateful for is that it happened on a Sunday when there were no pupils or staff inside.”
She added: “If it’s something that’s electrical or something else that has happened, then I’m greatly relieved that there were no children or staff involved, because that would have been catastrophic.”
Firefighters used breathing equipment and a thermal imaging camera at the scene.
They were seen dragging smoking debris from the blaze.
The fire was contained to one room.
A post marked “important notice” on the school’s social media website said: “There has been a fire at the school. The decision has been taken to close the school tomorrow to all pupils while it is made safe.
“We hope to reopen on Tuesday but please use the helpline to check and I will try to post on here also. Please share and let as many parents know as possible.”