One o'Clock Gun celebrations start with bang

CELEBRATIONS get under way today to mark the 150th anniversary year of the One o'Clock Gun.

The One o'Clock 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 gun is timed to coincide with the dropping of the Time Ball on the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.

The celebrations of the anniversary were set to start today at Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Kirk in Greyfriars Place,

The location was where the terrier Greyfriars Bobby lived during the 1800s.

George Grubb, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of Edinburgh, said: "Edinburgh's One o'Clock Gun is famous all over the world.

"Greyfriars Bobby is thought to have used the gun as a signal for his lunchtime."