Edinburgh City Council has learned important lessons from its controversial trams project, an inquiry has been told.

The Edinburgh tram inquiry also heard claims the project was not a failure, and that the city is "enhanced" by the existence of the system.

The £9m probe, chaired by Lord Hardie, is examining why the scheme went significantly over-budget and delivered years later than first planned.

The statements came as lawyers and the local authority aired differing views over who was responsible for past problems within the project.

In closing submissions to the inquiry, Roy Martin QC, for City of Edinburgh Council, said: "Council has already learned important lessons from the tram project, and awaits the findings of the inquiry in order to consider what further lessons can be taken on board for future projects."

Councillors are due to make a decision towards the end of 2018 on whether to go ahead with a proposed £165m extension of the tram route to Newhaven.

Martin added: "The council is aware of how the tram project affected local citizens and businesses. Lessons have been learned in relation to minimising traffic and other disruption."

However, Roddy Dunlop QC, for DLA Piper Scotland, said council assertions that the project difficulties were "mainly DLA's fault ... part company with reality".

He said: "If, as certain (council) members claimed, they didn't understand the blindingly-obvious fact that this was no fixed-price contract, the fault for that lies with Edinburgh Council legal and the officers within other council departments. It certainly cannot lie with DLA."

He pointed to "multiple reasons" for the project being late and over budget, and insisted that "none lies at DLA's door".

He added: "The things they are criticised for not doing would not have avoided the delays or the added costs."