Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has visited Edinburgh as part of a drive to encourage people to volunteer.

The actress was in the city to help launch Marks and Spencer's "spark something good" initiative.

Employees from the retailer, customers and volunteers from across Edinburgh will take on 24 projects around the city to motivate people to donate time to their local community.

During a visit to Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre in the south of the city on Tuesday, Ms Lumley helped children decorate its garden and plant herbs and vegetables.

She later attended projects at the Yard Adventure Centre in Canonmills, a playground for designed for children and young people with disabilities, and the Social Bite sandwich shop on Rose Street, which raises money for homeless people.

Ms Lumley said: "I have always loved volunteering for things because you never know what you’re going to do, you never know who you’re going to meet but you do know that it’s going to do good for somebody.

"I think that’s fantastic in our busy world."