Police call off radioactive alert

Dozens of emergency service workers raced to the Regent Language Training school on Wednesday night after the alarm was raised.

A section of Chester Street in the city`s west end was cordoned off and fire engines, police and ambulance service vehicles surrounded the building.

But four hours later investigators gave the all-clear, and the cordon was lifted.

It was revealed two boxes had been discovered containing "radioactive sources" used in school science labs and there was no danger of contamination outside the containers.

The materials discovered would have been used for "small experiments that we all did when we were at school".

The cordons were removed and the boxes taken away to be disposed of.

A male employee had uncovered the boxes while cleaning out a cupboard and raised the alarm after spotting markings indicating radioactive material was inside.

A national plan designed to react swiftly to any radiation alert quickly swung into action. All entrances to the road were closed off, with police officers guarding the roadblocks.

Steven Sansbury, of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It's a big example of inter-agency cooperation and everything went fine. Had it been a bigger incident - thankfully it wasn't - everything was here ready to go."