The blaze at the Primark store in Belfast city centre on Tuesday

STAFF at the gutted Primark store in Belfast city centre have been told by bosses their jobs are safe.

The inside of the historic Bank Buildings on Castle Street has collapsed after Tuesday’s inferno.

The Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that engineers who inspected the five-storey building’s exterior have said it is structurally intact.

Primark bosses met staff on Wednesday but have yet to confirm their plans.

It is believed that more than 350 people worked at the store, which was undergoing a major refurbishment and extension that was estimated to cost £30m.

A 45m (148ft) police cordon is in place around the building.

Queen Street remains closed from Wellington Place to its junction with Castle Street, while Castle Street is closed from Queen Street to Royal Avenue.

The fire started between the fifth and top floor of the building around 11 am on Tuesday.

Firefighters battled the flames throughout the day and overnight into Wednesday after the roof and floors collapsed.

The fire was still burning on Wednesday morning and 30 firefighters remain at the site.

No-one was injured in the blaze and it is not yet clear how it started.

Structural engineers have inspected the building amid fears that it could collapse.

Belfast City Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss how it could help staff and other businesses affected by the fire.

The historic clock at the top of Bank Buildings ravaged by flames

Shops and offices that fall within the cordon remain closed, and another meeting is due to be held in the afternoon.

Parts of the building are still collapsing and Alan O’Neill of the fire service said that had prevented firefighters getting access to the inside of the building.

“We’ve been cooling from the outside but it is going to take a bit more time to get the fire out – we’re likely to be there for the next couple of days,” he said.