JOHNSTONE residents were alarmed as they watched a fire rip through a block of flats in the town over the weekend.

Emergency services were called to 85 Elm Drive in Johnstone Castle on Saturday at around 9.52pm.

A team from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service tackled the blaze, which was believed to have been isolated to the top left floor.

Much of the flats near that area of Elm Drive are empty and awaiting demolition, including the building that was on fire. 

A spokeswoman for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 9.52pm on Saturday, September 30 to reports of a fire at derelict flats in Johnstone.

"A total of three fire appliances were immediately mobilised to the incident at Elm Drive and firefighters quickly extinguished a fire on the top floor.

"There were no casualties.

"Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe."