Detectives have made numerous appeals to the public to help them identify four boys — thought to be as young as eight — who were seen running away from the scrapyard as the fire took hold.

They are also attempting to trace another boy, aged around 11, who was seen in the area around the time of the fire.

A police spokesman said, “As a part of our investigation, inquiry officers have made contact with staff at local schools to make them aware of the incident, so they in turn can bring it to the attention of pupils.

“Our community liaison officers visit those schools during the course of this week.”

Over 70 residents were forced to flee their homes when the blaze took hold and seven families remain in temporary accommodation after their homes were gutted.

Hillcrest Housing Association, which owns the housing block, are planning to rebuild six fire-hit properties but said it would be some months before residents could return home.

As police continue their probe, officers were today trawling through CCTV footage in the area, as well as carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the Coldside area.

Detective Constable Simon Murray said it was vital to trace the youngsters who had been spotted at the scene of the blaze.

The tracksuit-clad foursome were spotted heading north from the yard in the direction of Strathmore Avenue at around 4.45pm.

DC Murray said, “We are following several positive lines of inquiry but are still looking to identify the four young boys seen running away at the time of the fire. We are also trying to identify the 11-year-old hooded boy seen in the area.”

He continued, “We are still keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at the time before the fire was discovered or as it took hold.

“We have still got quite a bit of CCTV to look at and we may consider widening the CCTV area we are looking at.”

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Executive said today they have been informed of the blaze but are not carrying out an individual investigation at this time.