Rabbie's hip flask up for auction

The hip flask goes up for auction in Edinburgh later this month

An 18th century hip flask which once belonged to Robert Burns is to go up for auction in Edinburgh.

The flask was recently bought from the Rutherford family when they sold Hunthill House, near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders.

Burns spent time touring the area in the 1770s and during his visit, he often stayed in the house.

Auctioneers Bonhams expect the flask to raise between £600 and £800 at their annual Scottish sale later this month.

Favourite tavern

Some of Burns's best-known poems and characters were inspired by his fellow drinkers.

In his native Ayrshire, the pub he visited - Poosie Nansie's Inn in Mauchline - featured in The Jolly Beggars, while his favourite tavern in Dumfries, the Globe Inn, still stands to this day and retains Burns's seat.

Burns is believed to have left this flask at Hunthill after one of his visits and subsequent generations of the family decided to hold on to it for sentimental reasons.