A group of Military Tattoo performers are leaving for Australia and New Zealand to promote the iconic Edinburgh event.

Tourism minister Fergus Ewing will bid farewell to musicians from the Tattoo's Scottish contingent as they rehearse on Friday morning.

The military musicians have already sold more then 250,000 tickets for their performances in Australia and New Zealand.

Tourism minister Fergus Ewing said: "An iconic event like Edinburgh's Military Tattoo helps put Scotland on the map and I've no doubt its presence in Australia and New Zealand will act as a superb advert for our country.

"The ambassadorial role performed by this cherished national institution will appeal to ancestral Scots and all those with an affinity to Scotland and will serve to support the strengthening of links between our nations. It helps highlight contemporary Scotland, with our rich array of cultures, and also our heritage, which we want to share with the world."

Brigadier David Allfrey, the Tattoo's producer, said: "This is a huge adventure! We have been three years in the planning and have received support from so many people, here in Scotland and across all the collaborating countries."

He continued: "We have sold more than 258,000 tickets across the nine performances in Australia and New Zealand. I know that everyone in our host countries knows about the Tattoo on Tour and is looking forward to us arriving in a few days' time.

"Having heard our military musicians rehearsing under the Principal Director of Music in Portsmouth, their sound takes your breath away!"

The performances are only the fourth time in the Tattoo's history it will be staged away from its home at Edinburgh Castle.