Police have vowed to crack down on vandals responsible for a spate of bin fires in East Renfrewshire.

The pledge comes after a row over where refuse operatives collect bins erupted at a meeting of East Renfrewshire Council last month.

Residents had reported cars catching fire as a result of bins being set alight. 

It was claimed workers would not go down lanes to collect rubbish, but councillors said taking lorries into the lanes posed health and 
safety risks.

Now police have stressed action will be taken against anyone who sets fire to wheelie bins, with the Netherlee area identified as a “hot-spot”.

Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty said: “We are working with our partners in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, tackling the thefts and subsequent setting on fire of wheelie bins in the Netherlee area.”

Campus police officers and fire officers have been going to secondary schools and warning pupils about the dangers and impact on communities of anti-social behaviour and the wilful setting of fires.