An animal rights charity wants to place a plaque in memory of cows who died at a 19th century abattoir.

Peta has asked Edinburgh City Council for approval of the commemorative marker dedicated to animals killed at the newly-rediscovered slaughterhouse near the city's castle.

The charity says the plaque would read: "In Memory of all the Cows Who Suffered and Died in an Abattoir on This Very Spot: Try Vegan."

In a letter to council leader Adam McVey, Peta said the memorial would be especially fitting for Edinburgh.

It highlights the city has been recognised as the UK's Most Vegan-Friendly City because of its numerous meat-free and dairy-free restaurants.

Peta director Elisa Allen said: "Peta's plaque would memorialise the animals who died years ago at the site on King's Stables Road and remind passers-by that killing animals for their flesh is a practice that belongs firmly in the past.

"Edinburgh's restaurants offer everything from vegan haggis to veggie burgers, so there's no better place in Scotland to give vegan eating a try."

Peta - whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat" - said vegan eating "spares sensitive animals a terrifying death in today's abattoirs".