Six schoolboys charged after fire at nature reserve deliberately started

Six schoolboys have been charged after a fire was deliberately set at a nature reserve in Aberdeenshire.

Emergency services were called to an open area of land near the A92 at Portlethen Moss around 4.25pm on Saturday, May 10.

Fire crews battled to fully extinguish the blaze by around 9.30pm and there were no reports of injuries.

The boys, all aged 13 and 14, will be reported to Youth Justice Management Unit in connection with the incident.

Inspector James Nicholson said: “This incident had a significant impact in the area and I’d like to thank the local community and emergency service partners for their assistance.

“With the recent dry weather there is already a higher risk of wildfires and emergency services are extremely busy.

“I’d urge everyone to consider their actions and the implications they may have.”

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