Parliament 'protesters' deny charges

Placards were held up during the procession

Four men have been banned from Edinburgh's Royal Mile after being charged with approaching the Queen's carriage during the opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament.

The men denied breach of the peace charges and were bailed from custody at the city's sheriff court on condition that they do not enter the High Street until after midnight on 10 July.

The men were held overnight in custody following an alleged incident as the Queen travelled along the Canongate in the High Street in an open carriage as part of the historic ceremony.

All four have pleaded not guilty to displaying provocative posters, shouting slogans, scaling a security barrier and approaching the carriage during a procession which included Her Majesty the Queen yesterday and placing the public in a state of fear and alarm.

September trial

Francis Dorris, 29; James Slaven, 28; David Lamb, 31, all from Edinburgh, and William Mulgrew, 34, from Musselburgh, were ordered back to court for trial on 17 September.

Sheriff Richard Scott released them on bail on the special condition.

Two men are also to appear for trial after denying charges of burning a flag during the same procession.

Jason Kelly, 28, and Donald Fraser, 24, both from Glasgow, denied breach of the peace charges.

They are to appear for trial on 16 September after being charged with igniting a Union flag and throwing it into the pathway of a procession including Her Majesty, the Queen.