Wasteland behind Edinburgh Lidl ‘burnt down’ as smoke rises over store

Thick smoke could be seen rising above an Edinburgh Lidl on Sunday May 15 after a wasteland area burned.

Footage taken around the West Granton Road store showed a collection of burning rubbish and materials as the blaze took hold behind the building.

Becoming visible around 7 p.m., the flames appeared to have reached a substantial height before emergency services were alerted to the incident.

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Quickly becoming a large fire, an eyewitness told Edinburgh Live they spotted a group of young people surrounding the area next to the vacant lot.

Contacting emergency services, Ryan Walker, 37, said: ‘I was walking home from the gym and as I walked past the Lidl I saw a gang of young people gathering in the vacant lots surrounding the store .

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“There was thick black smoke billowing from behind. I went down to investigate the fire and as I came down the youngsters scattered.

“As soon as I saw the extent of the blaze, I contacted the fire department.”

Edinburgh Live has contacted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for comment.