Fire crews and police attacked on Bonfire Night

The fire service was called out to a rubbish fire at a recycling point on Shields Road in Glasgow

Eight fire crews and several police officers were attacked in Scotland on Bonfire Night, with three firefighters injured.

One firefighter needed hospital treatment, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said.

Missiles including golf clubs and fireworks were thrown at police and fire officers responding to calls.

Police are investigating the destruction of a newly built play park in Glasgow set alight using fireworks.

Martin Blunden, the chief officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service hit out at the attacks on his firefighters, who he said were "only doing their job".

Across Scotland, crews dealt with more than 370 bonfires and handled 1,020 calls from the public between 15:30 and 23:30 on Friday.

Bonfire Night is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for the Scottish fire service (SFRS), which last year responded to more than 500 bonfires over an eight-hour period following 1,100 calls for assistance.

Under new laws in Scotland, it is illegal for the general public to set off fireworks before 18:00 and after 23:00. However on 5 November, they can be used until midnight.

Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: "Attacks on our firefighters are completely unacceptable.

"This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues - including the police when they must escort us at the scene.

"This type of behaviour is, of course, carried out by a very small minority and we once again thank our communities for their continuing support and working together with us to stay safe."

Fireworks were set off in the streets in some parts of Glasgow

Police Scotland said they received 20% fewer calls relating to fireworks on 4 and 5 November than in 2020, with 649 calls about fireworks and a further 105 regarding fires.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said there were fewer organised events again this year because of Covid.

"However, unfortunately a number of police officers as well as colleagues from the other emergency services were targeted by a minority of people intent on causing disorder," he said. "I utterly condemn this behaviour.

"Thankfully, none of those affected sustained serious injuries but no-one should have to face violence in the course of their duties."

He added: "We will continue to thoroughly investigate these incidents in the coming days so as to identify those involved."

In Edinburgh, large groups of young people in Niddrie Mains Road and Hay Drive directed fireworks at police and threw bricks at their vehicles. Another group around Duddingston Row threw golf clubs at officers, injuring one.

Police officers responding to reports of anti social behaviour involving fireworks on Methven Street and Glen Isla Street were targeted with bottles, wood and fireworks, with one officer being hit by a bottle and another by a firework.

Fireworks were also thrown at firefighters in Loreny Drive in Kilmarnock and Kendoon Street in Glasgow.

The play area in Maxwell Park was set alight using fireworks

A children's play park in Glasgow was destroyed by people setting off "industrial scale fireworks".

Maxwell Park's newly built play equipment, which had been partly funded by the local community, was one week away from being completed.

Mary Fine, chair of Friends of Maxwell Park, said people broke in through safety gates to set it alight using "massive" fireworks.

"I just feel for for all the local children and families who used Maxwell Park as a lifeline during the pandemic and who donated and were desperate for it to open," she said. "Our contractor, Des O'Sullivan, has been amazing and is committed to seeing it completed.

Nearby, fireworks were set off in the streets and the fire service was called out to a fire in fly-tipped rubbish at an overflowing recycling point on Shields Road.

A group of young men who were working nearby put out the blaze before the fire crew arrived.

Before Bonfire Night, the fire service reminded people in Glasgow to store their waste securely during the refuse workers strike and not to light bonfires to dispose of waste.

Glasgow City Council said on Thursday it would use contractors to help address urgent health and safety problems, such as overflowing bins and blocked stairwells in high rise flats.

GMB Scotland, the union representing the city refuse workers, said the council was trying to break their strike.