First firing re-enacted

THE first firing of Edinburgh's world famous One O'Clock Gun will be re-enacted on Saturday to mark its 150th anniversary.

Timed to coincide with the dropping of the Time Ball at the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill, the gun was first fired on June 7 1861, and has continued since then, six days a week, except Christmas Day, Good Friday and during the two world wars.

The original 64-pounder cannon at the Castle's Half-Moon Battery has been replaced by an L118 Light Gun which is fired manually by District Gunner Sergeant Jamie Shannon.