Plans to alter flight paths above Edinburgh Airport have been put on hold.

The airport launched its airspace change programme (ACP) last year amid forecasts of rising passenger numbers.

However, local campaigners have raised concerns about the number of flights potentially passing overhead, and over noise and environmental impacts.

The airport has held two consultations on the issue, ahead of submitting the case to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the ultimate decision-making authority.

The CAA has now essentially paused the process.

A CAA spokesman said: "We have informed Edinburgh Airport that we will not be continuing to review Stage 5 of the Airspace Change Process.

"Our reasons for this decision largely relates to technical aspects of the proposal and this has been fully explained to the airport.

"If and when these issues are addressed, Edinburgh Airport will be free to resubmit their proposal."

The airport held an initial consultation on the proposals, the biggest of its kind by a UK airport, from June to September 2016.

Overall, 5880 responses were submitted - 89 from organisations and elected officials and 5791 from individuals.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: "Scotland's first airspace change programme in over 40 years is a complex exercise involving many organisations.

"Our ACP is the first of many and it is clear that all of this needs to be co-ordinated with (air traffic control provider) NATS.

"We're clear that our proposal is the best balance achievable in terms of surrounding communities and our operation, and works for Edinburgh and Scotland.

"We'll be working with NATS on the co-ordination issues to allow the CAA to restart its analysis so we can develop the airport for the future."