A controlled explosion has been carried out after a suspicious package was found in a shelter near Edinburgh Castle.

Officers were called to King's Stables Road after a council park ranger raised the alarm at 5.40pm on Thursday.

The bomb squad carried out the explosion at 8.10pm.

The cordon remained in place on Friday evening as investigations continued.

But Police Scotland have confirmed there was no risk to the public.

The package was a brown cardboard box, around the same size as a shoe box.

But officers declined to reveal its contents and are keeping an open mind as to whether it was innocent or a hoax.

The road remains closed while Princes Street Gardens West is also shut to pedestrians.

Castle Terrace has now been reopened following the alert.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101.