POLICE have fired a plea to parents to know where their children are after a blaze started near North Queensferry last night.

Officers were called to St Margaret's Marsh beside North Queensferry shortly before 7pm.

Firefighters were also on the scene after gorse bushes had been set alight.

Police Constable Richard Duncan of Dalgety Bay Police Station said: "We were made aware of fires started in the St Margaret's Marsh area near North Queensferry around 6.45pm on Wednesday, 7 April.

"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire. Nobody was injured.

"All forms of anti-social behaviour have a disruptive effect on local communities and deliberately setting fires is particularly reckless.

"It is worth stressing that the vast majority of young people do not come to the attention of police.

"A small minority do sometimes become involved in anti-social behaviour and police will take appropriate action where incidents are reported and offenders identified.

"I would also urge parents and guardians to make sure that they know where their children are, who they are associating with and what they are doing.

"Anyone who has concerns about anti-social behaviour in their area is encouraged to contact police by calling 101 as promptly as possible."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said they were alerted at 6.34pm to reports of a fire in the open near to the B891, North Queensferry.

“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene where a large area of gorse was alight," said the spokesperson. “Firefighters extinguished the fire and left after ensuring the area was made safe.

“There were no reported casualties.”