Edinburgh Castle's esplanade will be transformed into an aircraft carrier flight deck as this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo puts the Royal Navy centre stage.

The finale of the world-renowned spectacle will feature a Lynx Mk III helicopter and a CGI projection on to the castle walls of an aircraft taking off from the deck.

Visitors will also walk under a full scale model of an F35 Lightning II jet fighter which has been hung at the entrance to the esplanade.

The display is in recognition of 2017 being the Year of the Royal Navy, as well as Scotland's role in building UK warships, the Ministry of Defence said.

Overall, hundreds of sailors and marines are set to star in the Tattoo, which is returning for its 68th season.

The Royal Navy will be further represented in the show by the massed bands of HM Royal Marines, and a 24-strong Royal Navy Guard of Honour will welcome the audience every night.

The Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset will also berth in Leith for the last week of the Tattoo and host a number of demonstrations.

In total, armed forces musicians will make up a cast of 1200 performing to a live audience of 220,000, and a global TV audience of more than 100 million, over the course of the Tattoo's August run.

The Tattoo has raised over £10m through its charitable trust and is said to contribute £77m a year to the Scottish economy.