Emergency services in Aberdeen have seen an “impressive” drop in the amount of bonfires and deliberate fires being set in the region.

The Bonfire and Fireworks Safety Campaign, run by Grampian Fire and Rescue, Grampian Police and Aberdeen City Council has seen a 18% reduction in the number of deliberate fires within the first four weeks of the season. The number of bonfires has also fallen by 3%.

Ally Birkett, Head of Community Safety for Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said: "I am extremely pleased that there is once again a reduction in the number of calls that the Service is receiving to bonfires and deliberate fires.

“It appears that the public are following our safety advice and I thank them very much for assisting the service to improve safety within their communities.

Although the statistics have shown a reduction we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent and we will continue to provide the public with bonfire and firework safety advice until the conclusion of this year's campaign".

The reductions come on top of a “massive” reduction in 2008 between October 6 and  November 5, when there was a 65% reduction in the number of bonfires and a 68% reduction in the number of all deliberate fires.