A bomb disposal team has been scrambled to an Edinburgh army base after a suspicious package was found at a nearby bus stop.

Police were alerted to the "unattended item" on Colinton Road, near Redford Barracks, at around 10.40am on Wednesday.

It is understood guards at the base raised the alarm after seeing the item near the bus stop.

Officers closed Colinton Road between Colinton Mains Road and Redford Road before the bomb disposal squad arrived at around 11.50am.

A robot was deployed to examine the package, which was later disposed of in what appeared to be a controlled explosion.

Experts later confirmed that the item was not suspicious, and the road was reopened at 2.30pm.

Police issued a description of a man seen acting suspiciously in the area at around 10.30am, and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

He is described as a tall white man in his 50s with a heavy build and short brown hair.

Officers said his appearance was "dishevelled" and he was wearing light coloured clothing.

Inspector Graeme Dignan of Drylaw Police Station was overseeing the response.

he said: "This item was not a threat and there was no danger to the public at any time, I would like to thank people in the area for their patience whilst this situation was brought to a safe conclusion.

"We are now investigating how the item came to be left outside the barracks, and want to speak to anyone who was in the Colinton, Craiglockhart or Colinton Mains areas this morning and may have seen the man described or has any other information that may assist."

Contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.