Hundreds of young pipers and drummers will descend on Edinburgh this weekend for the world's largest school piping event.

Pupils from 118 schools across Scotland will compete in the competition, which celebrates talent in traditional music.

The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships (SSPBC) will be held at Broughton High on Sunday.

More than 700 youngsters aged from nine to 17 will compete in eight categories throughout the day-long event.

The freestyle section will also give the young musicians the chance to perform new compositions.

Among those taking part are Ullapool High School Pipe Band, which will be leaving the Highlands at 2am to ensure they arrive in time.

The band's piping instructor, Gary Nimmo, said: "I fully believe that there is a great benefit for our students to have interaction with other schools and to be able to see the level that they are playing at.

"This is why we are making an overnight trip to the competition."

David Johnston, SSPBC committee chairman, said: "The talent displayed by those who have entered the competition in the past has always been absolutely outstanding and I'm delighted to see the prospect of more new young musicians taking part this year.

"It's great to see so many junior musicians get involved in piping and it is particularly pleasing to see schools from outside the central belt make the extra effort to travel so far."

The SSPBC is managed by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust. The charity supports more than 1000 pupils in state schools in 11 local authority areas to learn the pipes and drums, and encourages the development of school pipe bands.