Four men have been held by police during early ­morning raids as part of a crackdown on crime following a series of firearms incidents.

A number of properties in the Gilmerton and Inch areas of Edinburgh were targeted yesterday, with the men detained for a variety of offences.

A 32-year-old woman was also arrested on Wednesday as part of the operation.

It comes after firearms incidents in the south of the city over the past couple of weeks, including shots being fired at a house and parked vehicle in the area on S­aturday. There were no reports of anyone having been injured as a result of any of the incidents. Detective Superintendent David Gordon said: "Police Scotland has a zero-tolerance approach to gun crime and we are targeting the areas affected in relation to criminal activity.

"We are carrying out interviews, searching premises and acting on intelligence and information provided by the public. But we still need the community to tell us what they know about those involved in gun crime and to assist us in ensuring we have safer communities."