Fire crews rescued nine people from a tenement block in north Edinburgh early on Saturday where there was a blaze in the stairwell.

A neighbour raised the alarm and called firefighters to West Pilton Grove at 4.49am where there was heavy smoke in the three storey building with six flats.

Three men, four women and two children, a boy and a girl, were rescued by the fire service

Both children were taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children accompanied by two adults.

Three adults were taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and two others were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Fire crews from Tollcross and McDonald Road used a ladder to the first floor window to rescue some of the occupants of the building while the others were led to safety.

A spokesperson for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “The source of the fire was rubbish on the ground floor of a communal stair.

“This caused heavy smoke damage. The incident is still being investigated.”

The fire services left the scene at 7.42am