FIREFIGHTERS have told MSPs they did not give official clearance to any fire and emergency plans for the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art during its renovation.

In a new submission to the Culture Committee of the parliament - which has been holding a series of hearings about the the June 2018 fire - the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it had made the submission after hearing it had given approval to the plan for the Mackintosh Building site, which was under the control of Kier Construction.

A spokesman said: "It is solely the responsibility of the principal contractor to produce a fire and emergency plan.

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"Engagement and consultation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is not a statutory requirement of this process.

"Furthermore, SFRS does not approve or validate fire and emergency plans."

The SFRS provided the new document "for clarity, and confirmation, around the role and function of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service".

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In June last year a fire destroyed the Mackintosh Building, four years after another blaze which ripped through the west end of the building.

The SFRS are currently investigating the cause of the fire and a report is due this year.