THE Crown Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire at Cameron House which killed a couple in December last year.

More than 200 people were evacuated from the Balloch hotel when the blaze happened on December 18. London couple Simon Midgley, 32, and Richard Dyson, 38, died in the fire.

Police and fire specialist forensic investigators have completed their examination of the scene.

The investigation is now under the remit of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "The procurator fiscal has received reports in connection with the deaths of Simon Midgely and Richard Dyson at the Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond on December 18, 2017.

“The investigation into the death by Police Scotland, under the direction of the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU), is ongoing and the families will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed the hotel was handed back to the owners on July 13.

However, she added: "The police investigation continues."

Initially, due to the damage caused by the fire and the subsequent weather conditions last winter, police were unable to access the site to investigate for 14 weeks.

The owners of Cameron House have previously said a "careful and sensitive" restoration project will be carried out with the aim of reopening the hotel in autumn 2019.

A spokesman said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has concluded the fire investigation into the fire at Cameron House.

“This matter has now been passed to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "The police investigation continues.

"Police and fire specialist forensic investigators have completed a forensic examination of the scene and the hotel was handed back to the owners on July 13."