Branch manager Graham Kimmet was on hand outside the building society this morning to assist customers and said, “We are waiting on an inspection of the building. Once that happens, hopefully refurbishment can take place right away.

“I’m here to help customers with queries and redirect them to nearby locations. Staff are currently working elsewhere. Once we have an opening date, we will let customers know.”

A spokeswoman from Nationwide added, “It appears a wheelie bin was set on fire or caught fire outside, and this spread to the building.”

Tayside Police has said the alarm was raised at 7.45am and CCTV was being reviewed to establish the cause of the blaze. They appealed to anyone who was in the area from 6.45am yesterday and saw anything suspicious to contact police on 0300 111 2222.

Meanwhile, there was another fire at the former Lidl supermarket premises in Strathmartine Road shortly before 9pm last night.

Firefighters attended after reports of smoke billowing from the building. The blaze appears to have started in electrical wiring before spreading to the roof.