Pilot raises alarm after spotting fire

AN EAGLE-Eyed pilot helped save residents from a potentially explosive blaze after spotting the danger from thousands of feet.

The aircraft was over West Lothian on its way to land at Edinburgh Airport when its captain spotted flames shooting into the night sky shortly after 11pm on Wednesday.

He immediately radioed the airport control tower who scrambled emergency services to the scene of the fire at Coxydene Farm in East Calder.

Rescuers evacuated two nearby cottages as firefighters fought to douse flames engulfing up to five highly explosive cylinders containing liquid petroleum gas and acetylene.

Such was the ferocity of the blaze that seven crews - around 40 firefighters in all - were needed to battle the fire.

Paramedics were also on stand-by for much of the incident before eventually being stood down, and part of the A71 had to be closed off.