Campaigners have been protesting outside a former primary school in a bid to save the building from demolition.

Edinburgh Council plan to build a park on the site of the former St John's Primary School in Portobello as part of a new primary and senior school development.

Contractors have started demolishing part of the former school but campaigners have opposed the plans and say the building is an important piece of education heritage.

Residents believe the demolition should be halted and that the site should be used for another purpose.

A council spokesman said: "It has been public knowledge for several years that the old St John's RC Primary School would be demolished to be replaced with a new park in line with the Bill that went through the Scottish Parliament.

"Public consultations have taken place and the demolition of the main building is due to start this week."

The Neo-Georgian building was built in 1924 and is thought to be the first newly-built Catholic school in Edinburgh.

A petition to save the former school has been signed by around 1300 people.