A POPULAR restaurant in Glasgow City Centre has gone on fire.

Crews rushed to Thai Orchid on Argyle Street to bring the flames under control on Friday night. 

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said five appliances attended the scene.

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Police Scotland also attended and the nearby Alexander Thomson Hotel was evacuated, along with Ristorante Piccolo Mondo and two newsagents.

Around two dozen firefighters entered the area wearing breathing apparatus.

British Transport Police directed traffic near the scne as a section of the street, between Wellington Street/Robertson Street and York Street/West Campbell Street, was closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Helen Walker, who travelled to Glasgow from Brighton for a hen weekend, and is staying at the Alexander Thomson, told the Evening Times: “We just nipped out for lunch because we only arrived here a few hours ago.

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“When we came back, we were told the building had to be evacuated because the Chinese restaurant was on fire.

“We panicked because we were thinking all of our cases are in there, but we’ve been told it’ll only be an hour.”

Another passerby added: “I was walking back to work when I saw the smoke billowing out and the fire brigade rushing down. It looked like the restaurant was on fire.

“All of a sudden, about five engines showed up. Thankfully, the restaurant was closed so I doubt anyone was hurt.”

The blaze comes in the same week two other major fires hit Glasgow; one at an old Crookston school and another at a former hospital.