The Queensferry Crossing has been illuminated by a light show to mark the symbolic handover of the new bridge to the Scottish Government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took part in a procession of vintage, modern and electric vehicles across the bridge and thanked workers for their efforts before she switched on the lights on Monday night.

The bridge was plunged into darkness before the procession of around 20 vehicles carrying made its way across.

After a short speech under the bridge's north tower, Sturgeon started the light display across the £1.35bn crossing to mark the handover from the contractors to the Scottish Government.

It will open to traffic on Wednesday, joining the Forth road and rail bridges connecting Edinburgh and Fife.

Other guests at the handover ceremony included veteran workers who helped build the Forth Road Bridge (FRB), local schoolchildren and contractors to celebrate the "past, present and future" of engineering across the Firth of Forth.

Addressing workers, the First Minister said: "I can't tell you how emotional it feels to be standing on this stunning Queensferry Crossing.

"It is here to do a job and keep our country connected but it is much more than that.

"This bridge will be one of the greatest bridges in the world, no scrub that, this bridge is the greatest bridge in the world."

The Crossing will serve about 24 million vehicles each year, with the FRB to be used for buses, taxis and bikes as the strain is eased on the structure.