Residents had to be evacuated from their homes after a deliberate fire in South Lanarkshire.

A van was set ablaze outside a house in Comely Bank, Hamilton, on Monday morning.

Emergency services were called to the area at around 2am and discovered significant damage caused to the vehicle and a nearby gas meter.

The blaze endangered a number of people living in the area who had to be evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night as a result.

Officers investigating the incident, which is being treated as wilful following a joint investigation by police and fire services, have appealed for information.

Detective constable Stuart Burnside from Cambuslang CID said: "This was a deliberate and reckless act that not only caused significant damage to the vehicle, but also endangered a number of local residents who had to be evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night.

"We will not tolerate this type of behaviour and it is crucial that we speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or noticed anything suspicious in the surrounding area in the early hours of this morning."

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Cambuslang CID via 101 and quote incident number 0227/24.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.