A resident in Midlothian has told how she woke up 'startled' in the early hours of the morning after hearing a huge bang from a van being torched outside her home.
The local said this was the second time a vehicle has been set alight on the street recently. The Scottish Fire Service and police raced to the scene shortly after 4am after receiving reports of a fire in Watt Grove, Dalkeith and found a van on fire.
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There were no casualties and firefighters tackled the roaring blaze before ensuring the area was safe.
The resident said: "I live in a block of four flats and a loud bang woke me up at 3.30am, I was startled but didn't realise something was wrong till 4am when I saw blue lights from the fire brigade and police.
"I couldn't see what was on fire but firefighters were working hard and going into a nearby house and garden as their fence and garden looked to be on fire too. This is the second van in the same situation in the same lane in the last few months."
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 4.20am on Thursday, 20 April to reports of a vehicle fire in Dalkeith.
"Operations Control mobilised one fire appliance to the town's Watt Grove, where firefighters extinguished a fire which had taken hold of a van.
"Crews left the scene after working to make the area safe. There were no casualties."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said:“Around 4.20am on Thursday 20 April, 2023 we received a report of a vehicle on fire on Watt Grove, Mayfield, Dalkeith.
“The fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and there were no reports of any injuries.
“The fire is suspected to have been started wilfully and enquiries are ongoing.”
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This comes as the area sees a rise in anti-social behaviour. Last week Edinburgh Live reported how residents in a nearby village of Gorebridge are living in fear.
They believe the problem is only worsening, with troublesome youngsters seemingly flocking to the area and causing trouble.
Reports of assaults, vandalism, verbal abuse and intimidation have occurred, leading to some people in the area fearing for the safety of their families.
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