No panda cubs will be born at Edinburgh Zoo this year, it has been announced.

Tests carried out earlier this summer suggested giant panda Tian Tian was pregnant.

However, Edinburgh Zoo has now said the pregnancy has not resulted in cubs.

Barbara Smith, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said: "There was great excitement when early tests indicated that Tian Tian was pregnant.

"Like everyone, we are sad that the pregnancy did not result in cubs this time around."

Sarah Moyes, from animal welfare charity OneKind, accused Edinburgh Zoo of using Tian Tian as a PR tool.

"We hope today's announcement will mark the end of Edinburgh Zoo's attempts to impregnate Tian Tian," she said.

"The panda has been subjected to years of unsuccessful breeding efforts and surely now it's time Edinburgh Zoo just leave her in peace.

"We have always said that the decision to impregnate Tian Tian has been about PR with little regard to the interests of pandas or conservation, and had Tian Tian given birth this poor panda would have only known a life of captivity."

Ms Smith said giant panda breeding is an "incredibly complex, unpredictable process".

"I am incredibly proud of the work that takes place at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and we remain hopeful that successful giant panda breeding will be possible in the future," she added.

"It is important too to emphasise the crucial role RZSS is playing in giant panda conservation success internationally.

"Last year the giant panda was reclassified from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable' in the wild, and RZSS can be justly proud of our efforts in safeguarding the future of the species, supporting over 30 conservation projects in China."