ONE of the most senior council officials in Scotland has been suspended pending a probe after a series of scandals.

Edinburgh City Council said Mark Turley, Director of Services of Communities, has been sent home on full pay while an internal investigation is carried out.

Mr Turley's wide-ranging remit covers involvement in the council's response to the baby ashes scandal at Mortonhall, the crematorium which secretly disposed of babies' remains without their parents' knowledge.

Former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini's report last week after an investigation into the scandal was damning.

The baby ashes scandal broke in December 2012 when it emerged that the council-run crematorium had buried or scattered the ashes of babies for decades without their relatives' knowledge.

The families said they were told there would be nothing to scatter.

Mr Turley's remit also includes Liberton High School, where 12-year-old Keane Wallis-Bennett was killed last month when a changing room wall fell on her. It was claimed concerns over the wall were raised, and the Health and Safety Executive and police are investigating.

A council spokesman said Mr Turley had been suspended on full pay pending an internal investigation.