‘Huge flames’ spotted in hill blaze

A major grass fire broke out on Edinburgh’s Blackford Hill yesterday.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze shortly after 1pm.

Dozens of concerned locals took to social media to report seeing “huge flames” and thick plumes of smoke billowing from the hill in the south of the city.

No injuries have been reported. Fire services across the country have been on high alert as the hot weather returns, with temperatures reaching up to 26C in Edinburgh.