AN EAST Lothian magnet fisherman has dragged a rare firearm from an Edinburgh canal.

James Pearson, 46, caught hold of a ship’s flare gun while fishing at the Capital’s Union Canal at about noon on Sunday afternoon.

The mud-covered find is the latest weapon that James and his friends at the Musselburgh Magnet Fishing group have salvaged from waterways in Edinburgh.

The magnet fisherman has recently pulled out an American Second World War assault rifle, a pistol and two grenades, while a colleague also found five large rifle bullets last December.

READ MORE: Musselburgh magnet fisherman finds Second World War rifle

James, from Musselburgh, said that following his previous finds, he called out the police to deal with the disposal and intended to hand the flare gun into his local police station on Monday.

Magnet fishing became popular during lockdown and involves using a large magnet on the end of a rope to trawl rivers, canals and lakes for metal objects.

Participants were granted official permission to fish Edinburgh’s canals by Historic Environment Scotland in April last year, with further applications submitted in Inverness and Glasgow.

Canals are designated as scheduled monuments in Scotland, in recognition of their historical importance, and unauthorised magnet fishing could potentially lead to a fine of up to £50,000.

At the time, Catherine Topley, Scottish Canals chief executive, said she was “delighted” to allow “safe, responsible and accessible magnet fishing”.

“Magnet fishing will have a positive impact on our network and this activity will help our operations staff ensure that our canals remain positive green and blue spaces for the people of Scotland and navigable for our boating customers,” she added.