The inaugural Inverness Jazz Festival has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

Organisers of the event, which was scheduled to go ahead in July, said they would "work even harder" to get the festival off the ground next year.

The only other major jazz festival in the area in recent times has been the Nairn International Jazz Festival, which came to an end in 2009.

An announcement on the event's website said: "It is with great regret that the 2016 Inverness Jazz Festival will now be hosting only one event and that will be the Fun Jazz Cruise on Loch Ness listening to the Ness River Rhythm Kings.

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused but we do look forward to seeing you on the cruise and if you stick with us, we promise to work even harder to make this event work in 2017."

Inverness Events and Festivals said on its Facebook page: "The first Inverness Jazz Festival has been cancelled.

"The festival was due to start on July 5 but sadly the demand for the festival did not convert into demand for tickets despite the best efforts of the volunteers trying to get it off the ground."