Tragic camp blaze eco activist is named

Crews work at the Bilston Road scene as they attempt to establish the cause of the deadly blaze

The body of the 24-year-old, originally from South Africa, was discovered after the early-morning fire at the Bilston road protest site yesterday.

His friend Leonna O'Neill, understood to be an Edinburgh University philosophy graduate, originally from Belfast, was still being treated in hospital today after suffering burns to her arms.

Investigators have not yet determined the circumstances around Mr Millhouse's death, however, a spokeswoman for the fire service said one area they were focusing on was the possibility a naked flamecould have caused an accidental fire.

Fire investigators are still examining the woodland where Mr Millhouse's badly burned body was discovered by firefighters around 3.30am yesterday.

Today, residents told how the protest group, which they described as polite and peaceful, had been targeted recently by troublemaking youths, with one of them being stabbed last month.

There is no suggestion that the harassment the camp was subject to is linked to the fire.

Kenny Aitken, sales manager for the nearby Volkswagen Commercial dealership, who allows the residents to collect water from his garage, described how one man had run in bleeding.

He said: "Last month one of the guys from the camp was stabbed.

"He came running in for help and my staff got the first-aid kit out. After that I believe he went to the hospital. He was robbed as well from what I heard."

Mr Aitken added: "The camp residents never bothered us and were always friendly and respectful."

Carol Murphy, manager of the Bilston Post office, where camp residents collect their mail, said: "There was some trouble before Christmas but I don't know any more.

"A lot of them came from Europe, Spain in particular I think. They are a really nice bunch and this must have been a huge shock for them."

A spokesman for the camp said that the community had been hit hard by their friend's death and that they were attempting to inform his family.

He said: "The people of Bilston Road protest site regret the loss of one of their friends, who has been a valued member of our community, and extend our deepest sorrows to his family and friends.

"We'd ask for them to get in touch as we have no way of contacting them. We ask everyone to respect our grief."

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said a joint inquiry was being carried out with the fire service.

The camp has been based at Bilston Glen since 2002. It aims to prevent the A701, which currently runs through Bilston, being re-aligned to run through woodland. The proposals were put forward by Midlothian Council in 2000, but so far there has been no work on the site.

The camp's residents, have built tree houses and shacks on the woodland ground.