TWO teenagers have been charged after fire gutted a building designed by the renowned Helensburgh architect William Leiper.

Fire crews were called to Langgarth House in Stirling shortly before 5.30pm on Saturday, March 30.

There were no casualties as a result of the blaze at the abandoned building on the town's St Ninians Road, and the two teens, both males aged 16, are expected to appear at Stirling Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The building dates back to 1897 and was formerly a council office building, but it has been empty since 2009.

Leiper's other commercial commissions included the famous Templeton Carpet Factory in Glasgow and the banqueting hall at Glasgow City Chambers.

But in Helensburgh, where he lived from 1876 until his death in 1916, he was best known for his domestic designs.

The list of Leiper-designed houses in Helensburgh includes Cairndhu and Dalmore in the west end of the town, Terpersie in Upper Sutherland Street, which he built for himself in 1971 and named Thurloe, and Ardluss in Sinclair Street, as well as Morar House in Upper Colquhoun Street, across the road from the Hill House.

He also designed the Victoria Infirmary, now the Victoria Integrated Care Centre, in 1893.