INVESTIGATIONS will continue today into the cause of a fire that gutted a block of luxury apartments.

About 40 flats were destroyed when the blaze took hold in Fulford Place, York.

More than 80 firefighters from across North Yorkshire battled for eight hours to put out the fire, which started at about 5.15pm on Friday.

Hundreds of people were forced to spend the weekend in temporary accommodation.

The fire started in a top-floor flat near the Fulford Road end of the building and spread to two other blocks.

A problem with three nearby hydrants meant firefighters had to pump water from the River Ouse.

Residents said the delay meant crews were without water for almost half an hour.

Simon Moreton, 39, said: "I'd have been embarrassed to wash my car with the hoses they were using at first.

"They ran out of water, and it took a further 26 minutes before they had more."

Another resident, Frederic Limousin, 39, said: "My wife and son were in the flat. They did not hear any fire alarm or anything. They realised when they heard the fire engines that there was something wrong."

A North Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said strong winds had also hampered efforts to get the blaze under control. He said: "Everybody in the apartments will have lost property and will have been affected in one way or another."

All residents escaped safely, although a firefighter was taken to hospital suffering from breathing difficulties.