Dog teams from Lothian and Borders Police have had one of their most successful weekends after catching 14 criminals.

The dogs and their handlers managed to track down the suspects connected to nine separate crimes.

The incidents ranged from intruders at an army barracks to breaks-in and vandalism.

A spokesman said the animals were trained to detect scents and to find people attempting to hide or run away.

Early on Friday morning the dogs helped to catch three people at two separate break-ins in Livingston.

A few hours later they found two female intruders inside the grounds of Redford Barracks, Colinton.

On Saturday officers used dogs to search for two men after a break-in in Musselburgh and to catch a thief who robbed a newsagents in Penicuik.

They also caught a 16-year-old suspect hiding in bushes after smashing windows in Cameron Toll.

On Sunday the dogs were sent into a property in Burnhead Loan to catch two men who had broken in.

They also tracked a 32-year-old man in connection with a house break-in in Howdenhall.

A police spokeswoman said: "It has been an extremely busy and successful weekend for the dog section and their handlers.

"Fourteen arrests in 48 hours is no mean feat.

"Their assistance to the force in all sorts of operations is invaluable."