The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has sold more than half the tickets for this year's performances - six months before it begins.

The three-week summer spectacular has 217,000 tickets for sale.

About 16,000 more seats have been sold than at the same time last year, increasing ticket revenues by �500,000, according to its organisers.

Chief executive and producer Brigadier Melville Jameson described the figures as "excellent news".

The event takes place on Edinburgh Castle esplanade

He was unveiling the line-up for 54th Tattoo, which runs from 1 to 23 August on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade.

"I can promise a production rich in variety from around the world, and what will probably be the largest pipe band ever seen at the Tattoo," he added.

More than 1,000 performers from Oman, Australia and New Zealand are due to take part in this year's event, including The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Flying Gunners Motorcycle Display Team and the Gombey Dancers from Bermuda.

About 9,000 visitors are expected to be entertained every night by more than 600 musicians, fireworks, traditional pageantry and theatrical special effects under the illuminated backdrop of the castle.

The 90-minute production will also feature a special tribute marking 370 years of the Edinburgh-based regiment, The Royal Scots, as the Tattoo's centrepiece.