A WOMAN was pulled from the landmark former Newport art college after a fire broke out in the building today.

Firefighters from across Gwent carried out a rescue operation after the woman who escaped from the building told emergency services that up to ten people were still inside.

But after an extensive search of the building nobody else was found. Five firefighters went into the college to look for the suspected missing people as thick smoke billowed from the first-floor windows.

Rodney Road, which runs along the rear of the building, was closed to traffic while emergency services, police and ambulances were at the scene. An incident unit was set up.

The derelict building, which has become a haven for squatters, has been hit by a series of major fires in recent years which has left large parts of it unsafe.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Price said they had taken the reports of the missing people seriously.

He said: "Clearly the local authority has plans for the building and up until now we have taken advice from them and the fire service on the safety of going in."

Just last month, Newport council agreed a proposal with developers to transform the building into luxury flats after years of wrangling over planning and parking issues.