Two Dundee-based pilots are gearing up to circumnavigate the UK to promote women in aviation.

Rachel Foyle and Claire Birch are embarking on the special ten-day trip to honour a decade since pioneering female pilot Evie Saunders bestowed an aircraft to Tayside Aviation.

At present, only 12% of UK pilots are female, with the worldwide figure even lower at just 6%.

While always interested in aircrafts and flying, Evie did not take to the sky until 1959 before starting flying lessons in 1985 at the age of 64.

She entered and won a number of flying competitions aged 70 and won the prestigious Jean Lennox Bird Trophy for the most outstanding British woman pilot of the year in 1992.

Prior to her death from cancer in 2004, Evie donated a plane which has been used in over 260 pilot scholarships.

St Andrews University graduate Rachel, 23, started her training at Prestwick at the age of 16 and hopes the challenge will honour Evie's memory.

She said: "For most school-leavers and women generally, becoming a pilot isn't necessarily an obvious career choice.

"Evie was a truly remarkable woman and we hope that our trip will keep the spirit of Evie in the skies and inspire others to realise their aviation aspirations."