Children's play equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds has been destroyed in a suspicious fire at a primary school.

The blaze, on Saturday evening, caused significant damage to Paradykes Primary in Loanhead, Midlothian.

Police said the fire was started deliberately in a shed containing equipment worth £10,000 used by an after-school club.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze but the equipment, which had been provided by a charity, was completely destroyed by the flames.

The roof of the main school building was also damaged in the fire.

Police have launched an investigation and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Inspector John Dryden said: "This was a deliberate act that has caused considerable damage to property and goods.

"Children who rely on this specialist equipment have now been deprived of these resources that a charity has worked hard to secure for their benefit.

"We are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Loanhead area during the evening on Saturday or, similarly, anyone with information that can help us identify the culprits to come forward."

Midlothian Council's cabinet member for education, Jim Muirhead, said: "Destroying £10,000 of specialist play equipment is absolutely shocking, a huge blow to the children, staff and parents and it will have a major impact on pupils' learning through play.

"Anyone involved in this act of wanton destruction should be absolutely ashamed of themselves and should be held accountable for their actions."