South Wales Argus Camera Club member Deb Louise‎ took these photos of the building.

South Wales Argus:

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE 3.05pm

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said that the roads are likely to reopen in the next 15 minutes.

UPDATE 2.20pm

The SWFRS spokeswoman confirmed that there are now no crews on scene. The last pump from Duffryn left the scene at 1.50pm.

Fire officers are currently liaising with the water and electricity board.

UPDATE 1.18pm

A SWFRS spokeswoman has said that one crew remains at the scene and "are likely to be wrapping up soon".

UPDATE 12.30am

Both road closures and emergency crews remain in place at the scene in Upper Dock Street.

UPDATE 11.22am

Another video from the scene courtesy of Chris Tinsley.

UPDATE 11.18am

A spokesman for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has said that the first and second floors have been "fully destroyed" by fire.

Some fire personnel remain at the scene.

UPDATE 10.38am

Pictures of the fire at its peak have also emerged this morning, this one courtesy of Lois Wallbank.

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE 10.23am

More photographs have come from the scene this morning courtesy of Chris Tinsley.

South Wales Argus:

South Wales Argus:

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE 10.12am

A spokeswoman for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the external structure of the building is safe.

Crews remain at the scene damping down, with the fire having been put earlier this morning.

"We're expecting to be there for quite a while to make sure the fire remains controlled," the spokeswoman added.

UPDATE 9.30am

The owner of a shop that has been damaged by the fire woke up to hear the "heartbreaking" news this morning.

Umar Mahmood, the owner of vaporizer and phone shop VapourZest, said that he will have to "start from scratch" following the blaze.

The 22-year-old told the Argus that he has lost stock worth up to £40,000 that had been kept on the destroyed upper floors.

Mr Mahmood, who has only had the shop for under a year, added that it had cost him around £10,000 to refurbish his ground floor unit.

"It's just heartbreaking, it's my livelihood and I've worked so hard to get here," said Mr Mahmood.

"I've been told by the fire service that the shop is water damaged from the hoses so I don't know what I can do now.

"It's gut-wrenching, as a young business owner I've put hard effort, time and commitment into building something from the ground up.

"I wanted to get use this as a stepping stone to get somewhere but now I'm back to square one."

Mr Mahmood said that the first and second storeys of the building had also been used by community groups.

UPDATE 9.13am

Fire investigation officers have now arrived at the scene, according to Gwent Police.

A spokeswoman added that police cordons remain in place on Skinner Street up to the Upper Dock Street junction. High Street has also now reopened.

---------------------------

A "SERIOUS" fire at a three-storey building in Newport city centre was battled by 35 firefighters at its peak.

Officials said that initial reports of the fire on Upper Dock Street came through at around 3am this morning, with first responders arriving with the building "well alight".

The first crews to arrive managed to confine the fire to the single building and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Emergency services confirmed that the building was empty when the blaze started, but police officers carried out precautionary evaucations nearby.

A spokeswoman for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service told the Argus that the fire has been "scaled down" by responders, some of whom remain at the scene.

Roads around the scene, including High Street and Skinner Street, remain closed while the fire is dampened down.

South Wales Argus:

Emergency services close roads around Newport bus station. Picture: Elizabeth Watkins

The closures will affect local travel this morning, with Newport Bus tweeting having to divert services from the affected areas.