Sex crimes in East Ayrshire have risen by over one third, according to latest figures revealed.

A Police Scotland summary report of crime statistics was published for between April 1 and September 30.

The figures are based on the five-year average and showed that sexual crimes had increased by 36.7 per cent in the latest figures.

Overall crime had decreased by 3.2 per cent, although 5,416 crimes were reported during this time.

According to the report, £62,500 of drugs were recovered from the area, with £23,500 of Class B recovered from Cumnock, 30,000 of Class A from Auchinleck and 9,000 of Class B recovered from Catrine.

Despite this, drink/drug driving incidents decreased by six per cent, but fatal and serious accidents rose by 25 per cent.

Elsewhere, robbery was up by 26.8 per cent.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) report was also published for the same period.

According to this, there were 33 deliberate fire settings in Cumnock and New Cumnock, 42 in Doon Valley and 18 in Ballochmyle.

Six Accidental Dwelling Fires occurred in Cumnock and New Cumnock, three in Ballochmyle and one in Doon Valley.

Thankfully, no fire casualties were reported in any of our areas during this time.

However, Ballochmyle, Cumnock and New Cumnock, and Doon Valley all had three non-fire casualties each during this time.