Pipers blaze a trail up the Royal Mile

THE Royal Mile will ring to the sound of a hundred bagpipes tomorrow as the Pipers' Trail marks the end of a 470-mile odyssey.

The procession, organised to forge closer links between the Army and the community, has cut a trail right across Scotland since leaving Lerwick on June 17.

As the Golden Lions parachutists drop from the sky into Holyrood Park, the procession of military and amateur pipers and drummers will pass from Holyrood Palace up the Royal Mile to St Giles' Cathedral, while giant searchlight beams form a saltire over the Castle.

The military musicians will pass through Holyrood Park before meeting their civilian counterparts and leaving the Palace at 11.30am for the full parade. The day culminates with a free pipe and drum display and a theatrical performance at the Ross Bandstand at 6pm.

The event will draw to a close on Sunday with a thanksgiving services at St Giles' at 11.30am