FIRE broke out today at York's new mental health hospital.

Peppermill Court in Ramsay Close is due to open on September 12.

Five fire crews were called to the scene. 

York Press:

The fire began at 2.31pm and was out by around 4.30pm.

It is understood to have begun in the roof of the building and it is thought to have been burning for some time before an alarm sounded.

NHS officials will assess on Thursday whether the fire will delay the unit's expected opening on September 12. 

The building recently received a £1.2 million redevelopment, to make it fit for use as a temporary replacement for Bootham Park Hospital.

Crews from York, Huntington and Acomb fire stations had to carry out detective work with thermal cameras from outside the building to find the blaze before they could extinguish it.

Station Officer Pete Gregory said it appeared to have been burning for some time in a roof void before its smoke set off a fire alarm in a different part of the roof.

That alerted workmen carrying out final work in the building, who evacuated it and called in the fire brigade.

NHS locality manager Neil McAdam said he could not say what effect the fire would have on the opening date until a full assessment of the damage had been carried out. 

Station Officer Gregory said the fire had been contained within about 30 square metres of the roof. No-one was injured. 

Firefighters had to remove some tiles from the roof and use their aerial ladder during their search for the fire. They managed to prevent the flames escaping through the roof, thus restricting damage, and ensured the building was safe before leaving.

Workmen helped them with detailed plans of the building.

The permanent new hospital to replace Bootham Park Hospital is due to open in 2019.