A fire that devastated a former Fife hotel was started deliberately, police have confirmed.
Officers are investigating Tuesday night’s blaze at Brannigan’s in Leven and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Youngsters had been seen playing on the roof the previous evening.
The two storey building in Hawkslaw Road had been closed for some time and was the third prominent empty property to be hit by firebugs in less than a year.
In August the former Denbeath Club was destroyed in a huge deliberate fire then, in April, Silverburn House was razed.
Local councillors have called for action to protect the numerous empty buildings in the area from fire-setting amid fears someone will be seriously injured or even killed.
There are particular concerns around the derelict Threeways Inn in Leven town centre and efforts are under way to identify the owner.
Firefighters said there was a huge amount of work ongoing to reduce the number of blazes in Levenmouth, the most problematic area in Fife for deliberate fire-raising.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Fife are investigating following a deliberate fire-raising at a disused public house in Leven on Tuesday June 19.
“Officers on patrol saw smoke coming from the building on Hawkslaw Road around 8.15pm.
“Inquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on 101 quoting incident number 3700 of June 19.”
