of historic buildings and a lot of history but at least it can be rebuilt.

"The most important thing is that lives weren't lost."

Another eyewitness John McLaggan said: "It was terrible to see the area on fire, smoke seemed to be pouring out of everywhere.

"It looked a difficult job for the firefighters to tackle as the fire seemed to be coming from behind the building."

Artist Kaitie Lorimer was particularly saddened by the fire as she used to have a studio in the Cowgate.

"All I could see were flames coming from my old studio and the roof of the building was completely gutted and I could see right through," she said.

Canadian student Deva Veylan was evacuated from her student halls and has been told she will not be able toreturn until Tuesday.

Another foreign student, Elisabeth Hoffnell from Sweden, was allowed back into her flat.

"Our apartment was filled with smoke and from my window I could see the fire flames bursting out only a few houses away around 0400. Terrifying!" she said.

These are some more of the eyewitness accounts you sent us:

My fiancee has been fighting that fire since 9 o'clock last night and it is now 11.53am. And still the government say that they aren't worth 30K! What would have happened if the proposed modernisation had been implemented and there were fewer fire fighters on duty?
Sarah Owen,
UK

Just been for a walk around town - I was amazed at the sheer scale of the damage, and to see flames still coming out of some of the buildings, though