EXPERTS have revealed how much it would cost to rebuild Glasgow School of Art “stone by stone” after it was badly damaged in a massive blaze two days ago.

Fire risk and construction management specialists at Glasgow Caledonian University said the fire was so extensive, it would cost an estimated £100 million to raise it up from the ashes again.

The blaze is the second in four years to hit the wold-famous Mackintosh Building, which was undergoing a multimillion-pound restoration project to return it to its former glory.

Around 50 firefighters are still at the scene of the blaze which engulfed the Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece, spreading to nearby buildings including the popular music venue the O2 ABC.

A few pockets of fire remain at the site with crews using thermal imaging cameras to identify any remaining hot spots.

Billy Hare, professor in construction management and deputy director of the BEAM Research Centre, described how the damage to the Art School is “overwhelming.”

He continued: “It’s much worse than the last fire from which recovered materials were painstakingly analysed and used in the refurbishment of the building.

“It is sadly questionable what, if anything, will be left that could be salvaged, restored or recreated after this fire.

“It remains to be seen if it will be possible to retain a facade from the current building. If not, damaged buildings have been taken down almost stone by stone in the past and rebuilt with a new, internal frame. This sort of project will cost a great deal more than the estimated £35 million after the last fire in May 2014.”

A conservative estimated cost for full rebuilding of the damaged building would be at least £100 million, he added.

Academics believe it is likely the fire started in the upper levels of the property, due to the roof appearing well alight in the early stages.