Police wearing protective vests are conducting "drug searches" near a luxury hotel in Edinburgh.

Specialist officers were spotted by passers-by on Wednesday evening in the streets around the Malmaison hotel on Tower Place, Leith.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the officers were engaged in a drugs search, but would not clarify further.

She said the protective vests were being worn as a precautionary measure and there was no risk to members of the public.