'Radioactive' packages found in Edinburgh building

An Edinburgh building was cordoned off by police after a number of radioactive packages were found inside.

A police cordon was placed around the Regent Language Training school in Chester Street, Stockbridge after the discovery of the packages.

It was later discovered that the packages contained educational isotope samples dating from 1994. No contamination was found outside of the packages.

Lothian and Borders fire service report that they were called to the scene around 7:00pm GMT. The emergency was attended by up to eight fire appliances.

The packages were found inside a cupboard being cleaned, and markings on the packages indicated that they contained radioactive material; the police and fire service launched the standard procedure for dealing with incidents involving radioactive materials.

Manager Steven Sansbury of the fire service said two packages containing "radioactive sources" were found, and that they were believed to be school science lab materials dating back to 1994.

The packages were discovered by an expert from Torness power station, and will now be disposed of by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.