A man has been arrested after allegedly meeting a 12-year-old girl on a "blind date" arranged on the internet.

The man has been charged although Lothian and Borders Police have refused to give further details.

Computer equipment has been removed from the man's home and that of the girl's, which is in Fife.

Security guards at Princes Mall in the centre of Edinburgh called the police after spotting a man in the food court.

According to the guards, the man told them he was waiting for someone he had met in an internet chatroom.

Report to fiscal

A short time later, police officers stopped a man, aged 25, and a young girl in nearby Princes Street gardens.

She was described as being made-up and dressed to look older than her 12 years.

They were taken to Gayfield police station for questioning and the man was charged.

A police spokeswoman said: "He will be reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with an incident in Princes Street Gardens yesterday (Tuesday)."

It will be up to the procurator fiscal to decide if the case is pursed through the courts.