Hogmanay celebrations under way

Hogmanay celebrations have got under way with a torchlight procession through Edinburgh.

Around 7,000 torchbearers were led by the massed pipes and drums and the Up Helly Aa' Vikings from Shetland.

The procession made its way through the city streets to the burning of the effigy of a Viking boat and a spectacular Son et Lumiere display on Calton Hill.

The event marks the start of the Scottish capital's new year celebrations, with tens of thousands of revellers expected for tomorrow night's street party, concert and fireworks.

Scottish rock band Simple Minds will headline the event in West Princes Street Gardens, where they will be joined by The View and Bwani Junction.

There will be five live stages and countdown fireworks at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm, with the midnight display from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle.

Events will also take place on New Year's Day, including sled dog races at Holyrood Park and a triathlon which will see competitors swim 400 metres of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, cycle 11 miles around Arthur's Seat and then run 3.5 miles.

The Loony Dook, the annual dip in the River Forth at South Queensferry, will take place at 1.30pm.

Revellers can also join an all-day event called Your Lucky Day, where a mix of theatre, spoken word and musical performances will be hidden in destinations around the city from the Greyfriars Kirk to the City Art Centre.

Those taking part will be invited to start at the National Museum of Scotland and to throw a dice to decide their first destination. The dice then decides their route around the Old Town for the rest of the afternoon.