A skip in North Queensferry had been removed and quarantined after fears were raised over possible exposed asbestos. 

Fife Council confirmed that the skip has been taken away as part of an ongoing investigation. 

The material had been lying in a skip outside of the Albert Hotel, which is accessible to the public, for several days. 

North Queensferry Community Council (NQCC) were the first to alert the authorities including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Fife Council. 

A Fife Council spokesperson said: "This is an ongoing investigation and enforcement officers are looking into the matter. As part of this work, the skip has been removed and quarantined."

Chair of NQCC, Iain Mitchell, said: "This is highly concerning, given the obvious danger to public health.

"It does not seem that the owners of the Albert or their contractors have given any consideration to the onerous legal requirements concerning asbestos, which are there for the protection of workers and of the public.

"It does, however, sit alongside the current dysfunctional ownership of the Albert, where a valuable local asset remains closed and boarded up when it could so easily be reopened and continue to provide useful facilities to both locals and visitors."

The Albert Hotel in North Queensferry has been lying empty since the end of 2017 but it was granted a premises licence in October of last year. 

At that time, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Alice McGarry said to the Press she was hoping the owners, believed to be KW Colinton Ltd, would revitalise the pub and realise its potential.

More to follow.