English rock-band The Smiths are to re-unite on stage for the first time in 30 years for a concert in Edinburgh.

The Scottish capital will be one of only three cities visited by the new Classically Smiths tour.

But the returning trio will not include singer Morrissey or lead guitarist Johnny Marr.

Bassist Andy Rourke, drummer Mike Joyce and guitarist Craig Gannon will perform as part of the new live concert production.

Classically Smiths will see some of the Manchester band's most memorable songs performed in collaboration with the Manchester Camerata Orchestra.

Rourke said: "To have been there the first time round and seen it first hand, and to still be such a big fan of The Smiths today, I am both thrilled and excited to be involved in Classically Smiths."

Joyce said he was "massively excited" to perform with Rourke and Gannon again, saying that the introduction of the orchestra would also take it to "another level".

Gannon, who was the second guitarist for the band, hailed the event as a "refreshing and exciting production, not only for us as musicians, but ultimately for the people coming to see and hear it."

He said: "I'm really looking forward to playing these great songs with an orchestra and I know people are going to embrace the way in which they are presented."

Tracks on the playlist at the event will include There Is A Light That Never Goes Out and How Soon Is Now?

Other hits that will also be performed include The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, Hand In Glove and Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.

The concerts are set for June and July, with limited dates in Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

The demise of the Manchester rock band, formed in 1982, has been well documented.

Following their split, reportedly sparked by friction between frontman Morrissey and Marr, tensions rose again when Joyce and bassist Rourke took the former pair to court over royalties in 1989.

Tickets for Classically Smiths go on sale on January 26.