A top fire chief has warned that attacks on firefighters on Bonfire Night will not be tolerated.

Assistant chief officer (ACO) Lewis Ramsay hit out after crews were targeted by missiles and fireworks last year.

Speaking ahead of Monday's celebrations said: "These firefighters are your father, mother, brother or sister - someone's family."

Teams across Edinburgh and Bathgate, West Lothian, in particular were targeted several times in one night.

Firefighters in the Capital needed police protection when they attended unorganised bonfires. Officers had to escort the crew to extinguish the flames.

Fortunately, no injuries were sustained by the firefighters and the fire engines were undamaged.

The attacks came on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's busiest night of the year.

Firefighters across the country responded to 330 unofficial bonfires on November 5, 2017, while Operations Control dealt with hundreds of calls.

ACO Ramsay, the SFRS's director of response and resilience, said: "Our firefighters' main purpose is to save lives.

"You can rest assured that they will always be there and standing on the front line to help at times of emergency.

"It beggars belief when I hear that they have either been physically assaulted or verbally abused when trying to assist their communities.

"I would like to take this opportunity to stress once again that this will not be tolerated because our firefighters absolutely do not deserve to be met with such behaviour."

Latest stats from 20016/2017 show 61 firefighters were involved in incidents where they were physically or verbally abused or had objects thrown at the fire engines - causing injuries to seven staff.

ACO Ramsay warned that such criminal action would be taken extremely seriously and vowed to work with police partners to ensure those responsible are identified and held to account.

He said: "Attacks on emergency responders are completely unacceptable and I am sure the public would be outraged by incidents where their firefighters have been targeted while working to protect people and property.

"This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues including the police when they have to escort us at the scene.

"This cannot be condoned."

The Scottish Conservatives have called for extra protection for emergency workers - including the ability to search for fireworks.

Liam Kerr MSP is to announce a range of measures designed to improve staff safety at a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control centre in Dundee.

Proposals include giving police the power to search for fireworks, tougher sentences for offences against emergency staff and ensuring responders have equipment to keep them from harm.

Mr Kerr said: "The importance of our emergency workers simply cannot be underestimated.

"They work in the worst of conditions to help people experiencing the most terrifying of situations.

"Following my seeing, first hand, the intense pressure that our emergency workers operate within each time they go to work, I would like to demonstrate the Scottish Conservatives' commitment to these crucial services.

"I firmly endorse the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service campaign 'Do Not Attack Me' and reiterate that any attempts to harm fire crews should not be tolerated.

"This initial package of targeted policies would give emergency workers additional support as they undertake their vital work."

The Scottish SPCA has also urged revellers to think of pets and wild animals ahead of bonfire season.

A spokesperson said: "We're encouraging the public to attend organised displays rather than set off their own fireworks.

"This will allow pet owners to take appropriate action to minimise the distress caused to their animals."

Last week STV News told how a pet owner shared footage of her dog cowering in fear in a bid to help prevent the misuse of fireworks.

Fiona MacFarlane, 37, filmed her rescue greyhound Charlie shaking uncontrollably on her kitchen floor after loud bangs were heard outside.

The business owner, of Burnbank, Hamilton, posted the clip on social media as she called for fireworks users to consider animals suffering at this time of year.

Ms MacFarlane said: "What you see in that video clip, is basically him for around 90 minutes to two hours - on the back on two or three loud bangs of fireworks.

"That happens almost every night for three weeks at this time of year. It's a nightmare.

"It's so difficult to manage and difficult to get him to understand that nothing is actually going to happen to him.

"It would be fine if we just had it one night a year but weeks on end is just too much.

"I'm at the end of my tether with it."