Safety checks are being carried out on Scottish high rises after an inferno at a London tower block which has claimed at least 12 lives.

More than 70 people were injured in the blaze which engulfed Grenfell Tower in Kensington and the death toll is expected to rise further.

Witnesses reported seeing people trapped inside the 24-storey block calling for help and jumping from windows in the early hours of Wednesday.

The cause of the blaze is unknown but reports suggest a faulty fridge may have sparked the fire, which was spread by flammable cladding.

Edinburgh Council intends to carry out inspections at high rises this week, while checks were under way in Aberdeen on Wednesday.

Fire safety experts say there is no reason for multi-storey dwellers to be alarmed, however.

Jamie Gibson, a senior engineer at Olsson Fire and Risk in Glasgow, said: "High rise tower blocks remain the safest places to be because they're under such scrutiny for fire safety.

"Something has clearly gone askew during design or construction but it's just not clear why the fire was able to spread through the building.

"There's no reason for people living in high rises to be concerned following the fire but if they do have concerns then they should raise them with Fire Scotland.

"A very specific set of events will have led to today's tragedy and the likelihood of those events happening in another tower block tomorrow are very low."

Dr Angus Law, from Edinburgh University's Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, said it does appear external cladding contributed to the blaze.

"The UK's regulatory framework for tall residential buildings is intended to prevent the spread of fire between floors and between apartments," he said.

"If spread of fire does occur as has happened at Grenfell Tower, the consequences are often catastrophic."

Loosely-fitted external cladding can trap flammable material like leaves and create a wind tunnel effect which spreads fire.

Mary Taylor, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: "Not all high rises were designed or built in the same way - nor will they have been maintained at the same time or in the same way - so buildings do not all face the same risks.

"While we wait to hear findings as to the cause of the fire we are working with members to assess the situation in Scotland."

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said the local authority would work closely with the fire service while carrying out its safety review.

"Regular inspections are carried out and the council's health and safety team regularly audits multi-storey services," she said.

"However, as a further precaution we will be carrying out a review of fire safety and evacuation procedures in all of our housing blocks."

An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman added: "Council officers are carrying checks in our multi-story buildings today and tomorrow which include ensuring we have been extra vigilant about any dumped items.

"We have also been in discussions today with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service about the next steps which depend on the investigation into the fire in London."

Tom Barclay, director of the Wheatley Group, parent company of Glasgow Housing Association, said the organisation takes a "robust approach" to fire safety.

He added: "The materials used in our multi-storey investment programme meet all building standards and regulations for this type of property.

"We also carry out regular patrols and inspections as part of our broader approach to health and safety."

A Dundee City Council spokesman added: "The council carries out rigorous and regular fire checks on all its housing stock, which includes multi-storey blocks."

Since 2005 all new high rises in Scotland taller than 18 metres must be fitted with sprinklers. In England, they only have to be installed in new blocks above 30 metres.

Grenfell Court was built in the 1970s, however, and there is no requirement to fit them in older buildings.

It is unclear whether an £8.6m renovation carried out in 2016 included the installation of a sprinkler system, although it did involve the addition of insulated external cladding.

The National Insulation Association said it was "too early to speculate" on the cause of the fire.