An environmental campaigner has been killed and another taken to hospital after a fire at a protest camp south of Edinburgh.
The man, thought to be in his 20s, died after the fire took hold at the camp at Bilston Glen, Midlothian, early this morning. Protesters there are trying to stop the construction of a new bypass and road improvements to the A701 leading to Edinburgh.
The man's name has not been released, and no one from the camp, near the small towns of Loanhead and Roslin, was immediately available to comment. Lothian and Borders police said they were investigating the accident with the fire service.
In a brief statement, the force said: "A man, believed to be in his 20s, has died following a fire at a campsite at Bilston Glen in Midlothian earlier today.
"A woman is being treated in hospital at Livingston for injuries she suffered in the fire, which police were alerted to around 3.30am.
"Police, fire service and ambulance attended at the campsite, which belongs to environmental activists".
The Bilston Glen camp has been running since 2002, and reports on its website that it is "intent on blocking any attempts to build a road at Bilston Glen".
It adds: "We are also doing a alternative lifestyle project, living and working together, organising ourselves and co-operatively helping each other. Bilston has done protests against road construction workers, Midlothian council, and biotech companies". The Guardian
