HOSPITAL staff were put on alert after a fire broke out at an adjacent hotel.

The blaze started yesterday afternoon in Clydebank's Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre, which adjoins the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

The four-star hotel was evacuated shortly after 1.30pm when staff discovered flames and smoke in the health club's sauna.

Medical workers at the Golden Jubilee, which specialises in heart and lung services, were informed of the blaze and put on alert.

But a spokeswoman for the hospital, run by the NHS National Waiting Times Centre Board, said no one was required to leave and services were not affected.

It is understood guests at the 168-bedroom hotel, including the relatives of some hospital patients, are now staying at the Golden Jubilee.

An investigation is under way to determine what caused the blaze which damaged the spa area and filled the building with smoke.

Paul Connelly, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Area Commander, said: "We do not believe that the fire was started deliberately.

"Thankfully no one was injured."

Mr Connelly said that gale force winds threatened to escalate the blaze.

He told the Evening Times: "There was a concern that strong wind might work against us but, fortunately, the fire was brought under control very quickly.

"When it came to the stage of clearing the hotel of smoke, the weather actually worked in our favour."

The area commander praised the quick action of hotel staff, and said: "That there were no injuries shows the SFRS personnel involved in this operation, and the hotel staff, can take great pride in a job very well done."

A total of 25 fire fighters from stations in Clydebank, Knightswood and Yorkhill attended the blaze.

Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus used hoses to extinguish the flames before using a special jet to clear the smoke.

linzi.watson@ eveningtimes.co.uk