Easter events attract thousands

Hundreds of musicians and entertainers took part in the parade

An estimated 35,000 people have braved windy weather to enjoy the second day of the Easter Festival in Edinburgh.

The international Easter Sunday Cavalcade, with 4,000 pipers, acrobats, clowns and other performers, travelled along Princes Street.

On Saturday events included an open-air Easter play telling the story of Christ's life and death.

In Glasgow, more than 3,000 bikers presented chocolate Easter eggs to children at Yorkhill Hospital.

Organisers in the capital also held a massive Easter egg hunt with 20,000 Swiss chocolate eggs worth more than £50,000 hidden across Princes Street Gardens.

We dedicate this festival to the people of Edinburgh who turned out in their tens of thousands Bob Bone Festival director

The egg hunt was part of a fun day in the gardens, which included music from tribute group The Counterfeit Stones.

A series of lunchtime and evening concerts was also being held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Greyfriars Kirk and St John the Evangelist in Princes Street.

About 40 actors performed the two-and-a-half-hour Passion play at various points around West Princes Street Gardens on Saturday, under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

Organisers described the event as a "huge success" and said they hoped it could become a regular fixture in the city's two-day Easter Festival.

Bikers travelled from all over the UK to deliver Easter eggs

Bob Bone, executive director of the festival said: "The turn-out has been magnificent despite the poor weather.

"We dedicate this festival to the people of Edinburgh who turned out in their tens of thousands.

"The warmth of their welcome kept a smile on the performers' faces throughout the day."

Meanwhile, thousands of bikers from across Scotland and parts of England received a warm welcome from children at Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children as they arrived laden with chocolate eggs.