Fire crews tackle 'wilful' Lossiemouth quarry fire

The fire service said it had sent eight appliances to Sunbank Quarry

Fire crews were called out to tackle a deliberate large fire in a quarry in Lossiemouth in Moray.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it had sent eight appliances to Sunbank Quarry at about 15:45 on Tuesday.

Images from the scene showed flames and smoke close to houses in the area.

Operations were scaled down in the evening, with four appliances left at the scene dampening down the fire. Police Scotland later said it was being treated as "wilful".

The SFRS had asked people to avoid the area and advised anyone living locally to keep windows and doors closed.

Large clouds of smoke could be seen coming from the quarry

Carolle Ralph, of Lossiemouth Community Council, said the flames were only a "few feet" from some houses.

She said: "You could see how close it had come to people's gates and the fences along the side of the properties."

Ms Ralph said some residents had been left worried by the incident.

She added: "We had a message from a mum whose wee one, a four year old, couldn't sleep last night, worrying that something was going to happen."