Edinburgh's War Memorial set on fire by vandals

Edinburgh's War Memorial has been acceptable connected occurrence - little than 24 hours aft Remembrance Sunday services were held.

Several wreathes were wholly burnt successful the occurrence and Edinburgh's Stone of Remembrance blackened with soot.

Edinburgh's Lord Provost said it was "disgusting and disrespectful".

The Army large who runs the squad that makes the poppies and wreathes said helium was "horrified" by the enactment of vandalism extracurricular the City Chambers gathering successful the Royal Mile.

Major Charlie Pelling, mill manager of the Lady Haig Poppy Factory successful Redford Barracks successful Edinburgh, told BBC Scotland: "This is profoundly insulting to the representation of the men and women the memorial is meant to remember. I'm perfectly horrified."

It is understood CCTV successful the country is present being checked and witnesses are being urged to travel forward.

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: "Yesterday it was my honour to laic a wreath connected behalf of the City of Edinburgh to retrieve those who served and sacrificed truthful much.

"The vandalism discovered this greeting not lone to the precocious laid wreaths but besides Edinburgh's Stone of Remembrance is disgusting and disrespectful.

"We stay astatine a nonaccomplishment for the reasons idiosyncratic could bash thing similar this which has caused a batch of upset for everyone who respects the memories of each who service their country. We person reported this to the constabulary and would impulse anyone who knows thing astir what happened to interaction them."

Ex-servicemen and women marque the wreathes.

Money raised from selling poppies helps enactment susceptible ex-servicemen and women - and their families.

Police Scotland confirmed they were investigating the incident.

Ch Insp Murray Tait said: "Our inquiries are ongoing aft poppy wreaths were acceptable connected occurrence astatine the warfare memorial successful High Street, Edinburgh astir 05:00 connected Monday.

"Officers are carrying retired inquiries and gathering CCTV footage to find retired much accusation connected whoever is responsible.

"I utterly condemn this appalling enactment of vandalism, particularly astatine this clip of twelvemonth erstwhile remembrance services person conscionable been held crossed the country."