Teenager charged in connection with quarry blaze

A teenager has been charged in connection with a spate of fires around a disused quarry in Moray.

The latest incident at Sunbank Quarry in Lossiemouth broke out on Thursday evening and firefighters remain at the scene.

It comes after three other fires, on Friday, 22 August, Tuesday, 26 August and Monday, 1 September.

Police said a 16-year-old boy had been arrested and charged in connection with several wilful fire-raisings.

They added that the teenager has been released on an undertaking and will appear at court at a later date.

Police said a 16-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with several wilful fire-raisings

Carolle Ralph, who chairs Lossiemouth Community Council, said the flames had come "terrifyingly close" to nearby homes.

"We have walked around the area after each fire," she said. "It has caused devastating damage which is putting lives at risk and destroying the habitats of wildlife."

Fire crews remain at the scene of the blaze

Moray councillor Neil Cameron said he could see smoke from the blaze billowing into the sky while he was driving home from Elgin to Lossiemouth on Wednesday evening.

"I thought somebody's house was on fire. It was enormous. I have never seen anything that big. It was colossal and very worrying. It was very close to properties," he said.

"I can only imagine how petrifying it is for people in their homes looking out and seeing this happening. The heat must be unbearable being so close. I take my hat off to the fire brigade for doing what they do."

Peter Mitchell, 38, who lives near the quarry, said he was both "sad and angry".

"It's such a shame... if you look around at the devastation, and the impact on the wildlife, and for the emergency services workers who have to be out all night," he said.

"The first time it happened it was quite scary, we didn't know what was happening I had to phone police and fire and ask them to come, my wife was really anxious and upset and we have the two bairns sleeping upstairs so that was obviously a worry as well."