Police have launched an investigation after finding more than 300 people at a house party in Midlothian.

Officers were called to the mansion house in Kirkhil, Gorbridge, at 00:20 on Sunday.

They said the team is operating the property as a commercial event, renting about 1, 1,600 a night on Airbnb.

It was disbanded and a 29-year-old man was fined a certain amount.

Organizers have been criticized for showing “ruthless contempt” for laws to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the incident as “absolutely irresponsible” and called on people not to attend house parties.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the property owners said the man booked for the entire weekend “looked very pretty”.

It added, “By half past one on Sunday morning, the owners told us to contact our elderly neighbors that there were huge protests and that the police were present.”

“We are trying to take legal action against the organizers of the event and are devastated as a family that has broken our trust.”

The statement added: “It doesn’t feel safe to be there after all our family homes and so many people.”

Police are now investigating allegations of guilt and reckless behavior against people on the party’s side.

Indoor rallies are not limited to eight members of three families and police can impose a 60 fine on gatherings of more than 15 people.

Repeat offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 960.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “People taking part in this organized event showed disrespectful disregard for the rules to save lives and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“Anyone attempting to violate such an event, or the law, should be aware that the police in Scotland will respond immediately.”

According to the Airbnb page, the 12-bedroom mansion house in Kirkhil can be rented for a minimum of two days and can sleep up to 34 guests.

However it says that it cannot operate at maximum power at present due to the rules of social distance.

Councilor Stephen Curran, chairman of the Middlethion Police, Fire and Rescue Board, said: “These 300 or more people did not put the coronavirus at risk, they took risks throughout and beyond Midlothian.

“We understand that following the guidelines can be challenging, but if most of us can do it, they can do it too.”

‘Stop Spreading’

The Midlothian party was one of about 300 reported to police across the country last weekend.

Officers imposed six specific fines.

The five were released after officials appeared at a house party in Kirkintilok, East Dunbartonshire, around 2pm on Saturday, August 20, 2020.

Two people were also arrested for fighting over property.

Alison McCallum, director of public health at NHS Lothian, said: “We must continue to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, which is why we need to be criticized for not socializing in the way we did in pre-Covid.

“This means we must not meet up to eight people from a maximum of three families together inside the house and we must not meet more than 15 people from a maximum of five families together outside the house.

“That’s why nightclubs are currently closed and large gatherings such as house parties are not allowed.”