Appeal for witnesses after gunfire at house

POLICE have launched an appeal after a gun was fired at a house in a residential area in Midlothian.

A bullet was found at the property following the shooting in Dalkeith at about 11:25pm on Wednesday.

Lothian and Borders Police said residents in Woodburn Avenue heard a loud bang, then a vehicle being driven off at speed. Guttering on the house was damaged, but the occupants were unharmed.

A police spokesman said: "Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of the reckless discharge of this firearm, nevertheless this is an incident we are treating extremely seriously. We are appealing for anyone who was in the area, who may have seen what happened, to come forward.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who noticed a dark-coloured car being driven at speed in the area after the shot was fired. Anyone else who has any other information that can help our inquiries should also get in touch."

Police sources said gun crimes in the Midlothian area were "extremely rare".

But they also reassured local residents that they were treating the incident seriously and would increase police patrols in the area in an attempt to track down the gunmen.