Jacobites to be seeing red in famous battle re-enactment

JACOBITES and Redcoats will fight it out at the Capital's St Mary's Cathedral as part of a historical re-enactment celebrating the 104-metre Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry.

The historic battle will be recreated this weekend as part of a series of events being held while the tapestry is on display at the Palmerston Place cathedral.

Dozens of Jacobites and Redcoats will do battle on the cathedral's North Lawn between 11am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Arran Johnston, organiser of the re-enactments, said: "We're marking the occupation of Edinburgh by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 and celebrating the success of the tapestry exhibition here at the cathedral.

"The prince's invasion was easier than he could have hoped for, with very little resistance. Ours promises to be a bit more exciting to watch than the original event."

The tapestry was commissioned by the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust in 2010. It can be viewed at the cathedral until August 31.