Curtain falls on Tattoo

Tickets for this year's Tattoo sold out in record time

The final performances of this year's Edinburgh's Military Tattoo were taking place on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on a record-breaking run for the event.

All 217,275 tickets for the event, held in Edinburgh Castle and featuring 1,000 performers, were bought by late July.

Acts this year included the Bermuda National Gombey troupe, who calypso danced their way around the Castle Esplanade clad in extravagant head-dresses, the Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland and the US Army Drill Team.

Marketing manager Alan Smith paid tribute to the creative work of production staff responsible for the success of the event.

"As most people are aware, this has been our best ever year in business terms since the Tattoo began 53 years ago.

The Tattoo has a timeless appeal which continues to attract the audiences Alan Smith Marketing manager

"The Tattoo has a timeless appeal which continues to attract the audiences but credit must go to the producer of the show.

"Brigadier Mel Jameson has added variety to the production which has, without question, caught the imagination of the public."

About 35% of visitors to the Tattoo are thought to be from overseas and it has been estimated that those coming to the Edinburgh area for the event generate £76m for the Scottish economy every year.

Castle setting

About 100 million people worldwide are thought to see the show on television during the course of the year.

The music of chart-topping boyband Westlife and Blade Runner film score composer Vangelis were features of the performances this year.

The spectacle was played out in the shadow of the city's castle every night from the start of August.

Mr Smith said: "I suppose this year has been much more about entertainment with a capital E, than has been presented in the past."