9 January 2012 Last updated at 05:16 ET

Flats evacuated after shop blaze in Argyle Street

Firefighters rescued 12 people from flats in Glasgow city centre after a blaze broke out in a shop basement.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 353 Argyle Street at about 07:40 on Monday.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said eight appliances and 40 firefighters had contained the blaze in the basement. There are no reports of any casualties.

Argyle Street is closed to traffic in both directions between York Street and James Watt Street.

Jim Doyle, of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: "On arriving at the scene, firefighters quickly led 12 people to safety from the flats above the affected building.

"Basement fires are, by their nature, arduous and incredibly dangerous.

"The crews who were involved in this incident did an incredible job in battling through intense smoke to tackle the fire in such extreme conditions to ensure it was extinguished as quickly as possible."

A joint investigation into the cause of the blaze has been launched by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police.