A MAJOR search is underway after clothes and a rucksack were discovered on a beach earlier today.
Emergency services swooped on Silverknowes Beach in Edinburgh after a member of the public raised the alarm just after midday.
It is understood that someone walking in the area was concerned after finding a towel, clothes, and rucksack at the popular beach.
Officers attended and searched the area before calling in a specialist Coastguard search team and two Lifeboat crews who were out searching the sea.
It’s believed that no one has been reported missing and officers are carrying out investigations to establish who the clothes belong to.
A source said that searching the water was the “obvious” thing to do as it is a possibility that someone could have left the items and gone for a swim.
They said: “It is unclear how long the items have been here and a search of the shore is now being carried out.
“The RNLI have their Lifeboat out carrying out a search of the water in case someone has got into difficulty in the water. That is one of the places that is obvious for us to search.
“Whilst it is unclear how the items got here there is a chance that someone has gone for a swim and not returned to collect them.”
A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: “At 12.53pm today, HM Coastguard received reports of unattended clothing east of Crammond Village, near to Edinburgh, Scotland.
“Coastguard Rescue Teams from South Queensferry, Leven and Fisherrow were called to conduct a search, alongside RNLI lifeboats from South Queensferry and Kinghorn.
“Police Scotland have also been informed and the incident remains ongoing.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Officers are carrying out enquiries after a small pile of clothes was found.”