Traffic-free days begin in Edinburgh city centre - BBC News
A number of Edinburgh's city centre streets were closed to traffic in an attempt to reduce air pollution.
City of Edinburgh Council tweeted a picture of one iconic street devoid of cars

A number of Edinburgh's city centre streets have been closed to traffic under plans to reduce air pollution.

The city has become the first in the UK to join the Open Streets movement.

Streets in the Old Town, including the Canongate, Cockburn Street and Victoria Street, were closed between midday and 17:00.

The initiative will take place on the first Sunday of every month as part of an 18-month trial.

Edinburgh's cycle hire scheme will also be free all week to encourage people to ditch their vehicles.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by The City of Edinburgh Council This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of twitter post by The City of Edinburgh Council

The movement has seen cities around the world temporarily close some streets to all but pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles on a regular basis.

A series of events took place to celebrate the launch in Edinburgh, including jazz performances in Dunbar Close Garden, Tai Chi on the High Street and electric bike trials on Victoria Street.

A mini-badminton net was put up in the middle of the Canongate for people to make the most of the deserted road

Edinburgh's High Street was also part of the closure, which will take place on the first Sunday of every month as part of an 18-month trial

Lesley Macinnes, City of Edinburgh Councils's transport and environment convener, said: "We've seen how successful similar schemes internationally have proved by encouraging active travel, improving air quality and creating a safer, more relaxed atmosphere so I can't wait to see this take shape in the capital.

"Climate change is a real threat to society, it's clear that we have to act, and Open Streets is undoubtedly a step in the right direction."

The roads in green will be closed to vehicles on the first Sunday of the month as part of the trial by the City of Edinburgh Council

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.