An iconic five-star hotel in the centre of Edinburgh has gone on the market.

The Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge, which is owned by Saudi billionaire Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, went into liquidation in June this year.

JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group and CBRE Hotels have now been appointed to sell the business.

The 69-bedroom property, which is the former home of The Scotsman newspaper, has been operating as a hotel since 2001.

Kerr Young, director of hotels and hospitality for JLL, said: "The Scotsman Hotel was placed into liquidation on June 9, 2016, and Eileen Blackburn of French Duncan was appointed by the court.

"Since this time the hotel has continued to trade under the liquidator's supervision while efforts were made to reach agreement to return the company and its trading to its owners.

"Unfortunately this has not yet proved possible.

"In light of the buoyant nature of the Edinburgh hotel market we are confident that our marketing process will attract credible buyers with a track record in operating high quality hotel assets of this nature."

Rob Seabrook, director of hotels for CBRE, said: "The Scotsman Hotel is one of the most recognisable features of Edinburgh's Unesco world heritage skyline.

"Barriers to entry in Edinburgh remain high and we anticipate strong interest in this exceptional opportunity."