Firefighters were called to tackle a blaze at a farm after the flames were spotted from the air by a pilot.

The aircraft was thought to have been on its way to land at Edinburgh Airport when the pilot saw flames shooting up from Coxydene Farm in East Calder.

He contacted the control tower who called emergency services to the scene.

Two nearby cottages were evacuated while fire crews doused the flames, which had engulfed five cylinders containing explosive gases.

Up to 40 firefighters were needed to extinguish the blaze, which broke out shortly after 2300 BST on Wednesday.

The nearby A71 was also shut for several hours. No one was hurt in the incident.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "The incident was spotted by a pilot and we received a call from Air Traffic Control at Edinburgh Airport at 11.30pm.

"The A71 was closed at 11.50pm at the junction with the B7015 to the Camps Industrial Estate.

"It is thought the value of the damage caused is likely to be high."

A Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said the biggest fear had been the threat caused by the gas cylinders, which were still being cooled on Thursday morning.

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