Officials at the Palace of Holyroodhouse are considering calling in police after plans of the property, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, were found near a public footpath.

The architect's drawings show the royal mews at the palace in Edinburgh. Though areas where the Royal Family would stay are not included, a palace spokeswoman said yesterday that the incident was a security breach and was being investigated.

A decision on whether to involve police will be taken next week when palace security staff return from holiday and examine the documents, she said. They were found under a bush on a path leading to the Water of Leith, in the Roseburn area of the capital. The drawings, with an accompanying letter, were found by Joan Burnie, the Daily Record's agony aunt, as she took her Jack Russell terrier, Polly, for a walk.

She told the newspaper: “Polly saw them underneath a bush on the path and came out with the plans in her mouth. I took them from her to see what they were. I was shocked to see the plans were for Holyroodhouse.”

They show power ducts, boiler rooms, gas meters, kitchens, toilets, gardens and stable yards. Three public entrances are highlighted, the newspaper reported.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders police said: “We have had no report of lost documentation from Holyrood Palace. As a result, no police investigation is currently under way.”

Times Recommends

• Swine flu vaccine for all as drug rushed through
• Artificial sperm and the race to build a baby
• BBC jets out stars to tout for prizes