POLICE are investigating after two cars were deliberately set on fire in a leafy enclave of Edinburgh.

The BMW and Mercedes were completely destroyed in the incident at around 3am yesterday in Dean Terrace, Stockbridge.

It is the latest crime incident to affect the capital which is suffering from soaring rates of youth crime.

Nobody was injured, however, officers are keen to hear from local people who may have noticed anyone behaving suspiciously in the street.

Detective Constable Douglas Mogg said: "Both cars have been completely destroyed by the fire, which appears to have been started deliberately.

"Witnesses in the area heard a man talking with a local accent at around 2:45am followed by a loud bang and then flames coming from the cars.

"I am keen to hear from anyone who was in the area of Dean Terrace around this time."

A series of public meetings across the capital in the wake of the recent crimewave.have been held following a crimewave. There were more than 2,300 offences in the capital caused by people under the age of 16 in 2014 - a 30 per cent year on year rise.