Abandoned car found in lay-by deliberately set on fire near Alness in the Highlands

A probe has been launched after an abandoned car was deliberately set on fire in a lay-by in the Highlands.

Emergency services were called to the lay-by on the corkscrew road, near Culcraggie, Alness on Sunday around 1.30am.

Officers say the silver Ford Mondeo is reported to have been abandoned in the area for around a week before it was torched.

Scottish Fire and Rescue extinguished the blaze and no one was hurt.

Police say the fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing

Constable Lyle Morrison said: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire and how the vehicle came to be abandoned in the area.

“I would ask anyone who saw the car being left in the lay-by, or noticed any suspicious activity in the area either during the week before the fire or around the time it happened, to contact police.

“Anyone who was driving in the area and has a dash-cam footage is asked to check it for anything that might assist with our investigation.

“If you think you can help, please contact us on 101, quoting incident number 0315 of May 31, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”