A university lecturer was investigated for a 'hate' incident over an Instagram post in which he quoted the film Trainspotting and said the English were "w******".

James Mooney, a film and philosophy tutor at the University of Edinburgh, made reference to the cult film, based on short stories by Irvine Welsh, during a talk to American students visiting the campus.

He wrote on Instagram: "Spent this morning telling a group of visiting American students that we don't *really* hate the English, but that they *are* w*****s.

"Welcome to Scotland."

Police confirmed officers were called in to investigate Mr Mooney's Instagram post after a complaint but concluded that no crime had been committed.

Mr Mooney is understood to have written the post while showing the 1996 film, starring Ewan McGregor, to a visiting delegation from the US.

The post relates to a scene in which McGregor's character, Mark Renton, bemoans Scotland's misfortune at being "colonised by the English".

One university source said: "It was clearly meant in jest and no offence was intended or could reasonably have been taken.

"It is all totally ridiculous, a storm in a teacup if ever there was one."

The post was later edited and privacy settings on the account updated, it is understood.