Scottish police officers have accepted an international challenge to show off their best dance moves.

A team from the force strutted their stuff at Edinburgh Castle in response to the challenge from cops in New Zealand.

The NZ officers put a 30-second clip of them doing the "running man" dance on Facebook and called on forces around the world to follow their lead as part of a recruitment drive.

Accepting the challenge, Scottish cops danced in front of a police car at the Edinburgh landmark in a video posted to Facebook.

They also issued a challenge to the Metropolitan Police, as well as forces in Toronto and their own police college in Scotland.

On the post, they wrote: "We accepted the #RunningManChallenge from @NYPDnews & pass it to @metpoliceuk @TorontoPolice & our own @PolScotCollege."

The video has since been viewed more than half a million times.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: "Police Scotland never shies away from a challenge and we were delighted to hear the New York Police Department was passing the Running Man dance baton on to us.

"Our officers are 'on the beat' every day and 'in step' with their local communities and I think we've well and truly shown the NYPD how it's done - as well as prove our officers have a sense of humour.

"On a more serious note, it's fantastic to see the camaraderie between Forces around the world and it clearly highlights the power of social media in engaging with our communities."

ACC Williams added: "We are now looking forward to seeing the efforts of our trainees at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, as well as our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police and the Toronto Police Service as they take up the challenge".

The New Zealand force had earlier issued the ultimatum to "Victoria Police, NSW Police Force, Western Australia Police, Queensland Police Service, South Australia Police, ACT Policing, Tasmania Police, LAPD Headquarters, Isles of Scilly Police and NYPD".

New York's finest responded first, enlisting local children to help them bust moves by the waterfront in Brooklyn. They then challenged Scottish officers to take part.

Other forces in LA and Australia have also said they plan to rise to the challenge, although officers in Scilly declined the invitation saying the force there "had a team of five and a combined age of over 300".