A couple who fled to Scotland from Syria fearing their son was dead have told of their longing to hug and kiss him after discovering he is still alive.

Abedul Karou and his wife escaped the war-torn country earlier this year after being told nine-year-old son Mohamed had been killed in a bombing raid.

They later discovered the youngster was alive and launched a plea to be reunited with him.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Karou, now living in Penicuik, said: "My sister sent me a picture and I saw him and cried, because he has no clothes.

"He's not eating well because there is no food of course. I don't know if he's being covered in the night - how he sleeps, how he eats, how he's living. We don't know.

"It's like every father who is responsible for a family. He wants to see a complete, happy family. He wants to get back after a long day and see a complete family waiting for him. He wants to hug him he wants to kiss him."

The Home Office is looking into Mohamed's case, but are seeking a DNA test to prove he is the couple's son before he can be brought to the UK.

However, there are no test centres in Syria due to the devastating civil war, and the nearest are in neighbouring countries which have closed their borders to Syria.

The family were separated after a bomb blast in Homs, in the west of Syria.

Mr Karou said he was "very happy" when he learned his son was alive but was very worried for him now.

He said his son was in a "miserable situation" and is concerned he may be kidnapped by jihadis and trained by them.

The family's plight has attracted a lot of attention from politicians, who have called on the UK Government to take action.

They were initially offered a Red Cross "chaperone" to take Mohammed across the border but now the Home Office has advised that that is too dangerous.

Midlothian MP Owen Thompson has now written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd to ask her to help after receiving an assurance from Theresa May at Prime Minister's Questions that the case would be looked at.

He said the family had gone through an "unimaginable amount of pain".