Shocking pictures show aftermath of Saughton Park fire where man had to be dragged to safety

These pictures show the aftermath of a large fire last night in Saughton Park where a disabled homeless man had to be dragged to safety.

Rescuer Kyle Mcandrew, 32, was playing with his kids when the fire took hold of a lock-up storage facility by the running track.

He told the Evening News he made sure his children were safe first before going for a closer inspection and heard the calls for help from the man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s.

Mr Mcandrew said that the flames were engulfing the container but adrenaline kicked in and helped him drag the man to safety.

The damaged container at Saughton Sports Complex

He said it was clear the man had mobility issues and he later found out he had Multiple Sclerosis.

The man is said to have been planning to stay overnight in the enclosure and it is not yet clear whether he had spent previous nights in the container.

Mr Mcandrew also said he had to chase a group of youths - aged around 14 to 16 - away from the scene of the incident and that he believed they had been seen in the area on CCTV.

Police said last night that they are treating the fire as deliberate and following several lines of inquiry.

The equipment inside the container was destroyed.

Pictures taken today show the destroyed storage shelter which contained sports equipment including gym mats used for athletics and other track and field equipment.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said two appliances - one each from Sighthill and Tollcross - were sent to the blaze on Monday, just before 7pm. The fire was extinguished just before 7:40pm.

There were no other reports of injuries.