Police investigate house fire believed to have been started deliberately

A fire which has gutted a three-storey home in the East Craigs area of Edinburgh may have been started deliberately.

Police and fire investigators are treating the fire, which started at a block of housing association homes around 1.10am, as suspicious.

Around 45 firefighters tackled the blaze, which led to the occupants on either side of the property at North Bughtlin Gate, near Corstorphine, being evacuated.

The occupants of the property are believed to be on holiday at the moment.

Neighbours said there may also be significant damage to surrounding properties. Fire crews were still at the site of the blaze at 8am today.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: “On arrival the house was well alight and the houses either side of the fire were evacuated by firefighters.

“It looks like someone lives there but no one was in the house last night.”