2000 to join Orange Lodge march in Edinburgh ahead of Pope's visit

THOUSANDS of members of the Orange Lodge are to stage a march through the Capital today, ahead of a visit by the Pope.

Up to 2000 people are expected to take part in the march, which will start in the Meadows and go up George IV Bridge, into Market Street and finish at Regent Road.

A member of the Orange order, who asked not to be named, said the "rank and file" members were considering the walk to be a "protest" against the Pope's visit to Scotland.

He added that there were no plans for an "overt" protest.

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed that they were aware of the march, and would be deploying an "appropriate" number of officers to cover the route.

The march was expected to start at 11.30 this morning.