Appeal for witnesses after police suspect fire started deliberately

Police are appealing for witnesses after a fire at a house in Burdiehouse in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Officers were called to a house in Burdiehouse Road at around 3.30am after reports of smoke coming from an unoccupied detached house there.

Initial indications are that this fire may have been started deliberately, and police are now keen to speak to anyone who may have information.

A police spokesman said: "Luckily the house was unoccupied and there was no one inside, however this was a substantial fire that has caused considerable damage.

"We believe that there may have been a group of young people in the area prior to the fire.

"We are keen to trace these youths as a matter of urgency, and we would like to speak to anyone who may have spotted them.

"The house is in a busy residential area, and we are also appealing for any local residents who may have seen anything suspicious to come forward immediately."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131 or Crimestoppers in complete confidentiality on 0800 555 111.