A pair of kestrels have nested in a girder underneath the Forth Road Bridge.

Workers discovered a nest with six eggs at the end of the steel beam while carrying out repairs under the carriageway on Friday.

The birds of prey are protected under the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981 and in 2014 the RSPB warned the species was seeing a steep decline in Scotland.

Bridge workers say they will avoid carrying out work around the nest until the chicks have flown away.

The kestrels' unusual choice of nesting ground sits below 80,000 vehicles a day thundering overhead.

The birds have been named Mr and Mrs Younger.

Maintenance supervisor David Gill said: "When we saw the eggs, we immediately cleared the area and instructed staff to avoid carrying out any works that might disturb the nest.

"I've heard of kestrels nesting on the bridge before but it's pretty unusual. You'd think they might prefer a quieter location.

"We're happy to have them here though, and have affectionately named them 'Mr and Mrs Younger.' We'll come back and finish our repairs once the chicks have hatched and flown the nest.

"In the meantime we've carried out a temporary repair on a local defect, quietly, and there won't be any impact on users of the bridge."