Counting cost of City fire

Damage caused by the fire that raged through City University last week could cost up to £6 million to repair, and it may be 18 months before all departments return to normal.

The fire started in the School of Informatics and devastated much of Level 5 of the listed College Building. There was severe water damage to floors below.

Affected areas include the vice-chancellor's office, the department of computing and the personnel department. More than 100 staff have been left without office space.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but foul play has been ruled out.

The institution is hoping that prospective students are not deterred by the extensive press coverage - including the front page of the London Evening Standard.

Vice-chancellor David Rhind said: "Current students know that this is serious but in no sense cataclysmic."

The university is writing to students due to arrive in the autumn to reassure them.