A top diplomat has praised the fire service after a crew came to their aid following the death of Prince Philip this week.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday that the Duke of Edinburgh had died peacefully at Windsor Castle just weeks after he was released from a London hospital and reunited with the Queen, at the age of 99.
In the wake of his death, Edinburgh's Belgian consulate - which is located in Penicuik - looked to pay their respects by lowering the flag to half-mast in tribute to the royal.
Yves Lemarchand, who has been the Honorary Consul in the capital for Belgium since 1996, had to call in firefighters after the "sudden death" to help with the tribute.
He told Edinburgh Live: "It was, of course, unplanned due to the sudden death of the Duke of Edinburgh but we all wanted to do it to show our respect - the fire brigade was immensely flexible and accommodating."
Photos from the scene on Friday night show police and firefighters on Penicuik's West Street as they worked to adjust the flag with ladders that reached the height of the building.
Locals in the community praised the consul and thanked the fire crews, with one writing: "Well done".
To mark the Prince's death, a gun salute also took place at Edinburgh Castle with saluting batteries firing 41 rounds – one each minute.
Small groups of locals, apparently adhering to social distancing, flocked to Princes Street Gardens this afternoon to observe the salute.
