An Edinburgh-based oil and gas firm has been reported to UK regulators amid claims it failed to tell investors about the risks of climate change.

Environmental law organisation ClientEarth reported Cairn Energy to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to raise concerns about "defective reporting".

ClientEarth also reported SOCO International, which has headquarters in London, claiming both firms made scant reference to climate-related risks to business in their annual reports.

The firm's lawyer, Alice Garton, said: "For companies operating in this sector - with business models and strategies which rely on the continued use of hydrocarbons - it is inconceivable that climate risk is not a material and significant factor for these companies.

"Failing to adequately disclose climate risk is failing to mention one of the most important risks facing the company - and means the annual report is only telling the positive side of the story.

"This information is vital for investors - without it they simply cannot make a fully informed investment decision."

The Companies Act 2006 sets out an established legal framework for companies to report material risks to the business.

The FRC is responsible for ensuring financial and other reports comply with the relevant requirements.

ClientEarth's referral was welcomed by environment charity WWF Scotland.

Director Lang Banks said: "It's important that companies like Cairn Energy acknowledge to investors the risks that climate change poses to their businesses.

"Climate risks that are themselves being brought about, in part, from their very activities as a fossil fuel company.

"We believe Scottish companies like Cairn Energy should be leaders in clean energy instead of desperately seeking to squeeze out every last drop of oil no matter the risks."

A spokesman for Cairn Energy said: "[Cairn Energy] is a constituent of the FTSE4Good, whereby the company is selected and screened in accordance with transparent and defined environmental, social and governance criteria. The index is designed to identify companies with recognised corporate responsibility practices.

"Corporate responsibility is key to our business and we take our commitments to responsible and transparent reporting very seriously and have been recognised for the quality of our work in this area.

"We continually identify corporate responsibility priorities and our 2015 annual report featured climate change in the comprehensive materiality matrix."