A FIREFIGHTER has been taken to hospital after he was allegedly assaulted responding to a call.

The incident happened after crews were called to a report of a fire at the high-rise flats in Linksview House, Tolbooth Wynd in Leith, Edinburgh, at 3.35pm yesterday.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said they dis-covered a fire in the kitchen of a flat and smoke coming out of the property and as one of the firefighters went to help evacuate a man from the premises, he was allegedly kicked in the face.

Police were called and the man was taken into custody.

Four firefighters extinguished the fire, vented the property and checked for fire spread.

Senior officer for the City of Edinburgh John Dickie said: "No firefighter ever expects to be assaulted in the course of responding to an emergency, it is totally unacceptable."