A PROBE was under way today after three East End businesses were torched by firebugs.

A PROBE was under way today after three East End businesses were torched by firebugs.

The premises in Glasgow's Gallowgate have been gutted and it is believed the blaze is suspicious.

Witnesses said vandals were seen pouring petrol close to the middle property, the former Lynn's Bar and the blaze quickly spread to a neighbouring chip shop and newsagents.

Staff at the fish and chip shop were closing for the night when they smelled smoke and alerted the fire brigade.

This morning crews were still at the scene and smoke was billowing across the East End skyline with fire crews fighting the last of the flames.

All that remains now is a charred shell and it is likely the properties will have to be demolished.

At the height of the fire more than 30 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze and police were forced to cordon off a 400 metre stretch of the street.

The fire broke out at the shop in Glasgow's Gallowgate shortly before midnight and crews were still at the scene this morning.

Four crews from the Calton and Polmadie Community Fire Stations were sent to the scene around 11.45pm last night.

Crews wore breathing gear to enter into the building despite having problems gaining access.

However, the crews were forced to withdraw from the shop as the fire took hold in the building hold at ceiling level and quickly ripped through the building.

Two aerial and three rescue appliances were involved in trying to bring the fire under control. It took around four hours before it was fully extinguished.

The blaze caused traffic problems with commuters and bus passengers forced to seek alternative routes.

Watch commander John Hunter, of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: "We are one of the relief crews and when we arrived around 4am colleagues were still fighting flames.

"Although it's under control now there is still a lot of smoke and intense heat and pockets of fire.

"Brickwork has fallen away at one of the premises and the whole structure is now very unsafe. We are likely to have crews here for most of the day and will have to keep damping down to make sure the fire is fully extinguished."

While crews battled the blaze in the East End another blaze broke out in Possilpark.

Crews from Springburn tackled the blaze at Rowebb builders merchants which broke out around 3am.