"Reckless" thugs deliberately started a property fire in Lanarkshire, according to police.

Officers investigating the blaze at a building on Motherwell Road in Carfin say it was only luck that prevented people being injured in the blaze.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at around 8.15pm on Wednesday, January 15. 

Damage was caused to the building but no-one was injured. 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze - which police are now treating as wilful. 

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Detective Constable Graeme Stoddart said: "Deliberately starting fires is a reckless act and it is fortunate that this fire was contained with nobody being injured.

"I would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity around the area to let us know.

"Anyone with dashcam footage or private CCTV is asked to review their footage and pass on anything which could be of note.

"If you have information, please contact police on 101, quoting incident 3126 of January 15, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."