POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver died in an early morning "altercation".

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver died in an early morning "altercation".

The incident happened at around 1.20am yesterday on Lauder Road, Dalkeith, following an incident that took place in a taxi.

The driver's death is being treated as suspicious.

It is unclear whether he was attacked by a passenger or by someone who had flagged down and approached the vehicle.

Emergency services were called and the injured man was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives are urging anyone who was in the Lauder Road and Easthouses Road area at the time and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to come forward.

Lauder Road runs along the outskirts of a residential area of Dalkeith, with houses lining one side of the road and woodland on the other.

Police Scotland Detective Inspector Mark Henderson said: "We are currently treating this death as suspicious and we are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Lauder Road and East House Road in Dalkeith around 1.20am this morning to contact police on 101."