More than 8,000 people took part in the marathon

The participants, including some men, left the Meadows at midnight for the first ever MoonWalk in Scotland.

The walkers travelled either 13.1 miles, a half moon, or the full moon, 26.2 miles.

Television presenter Lorraine Kelly was among those taking part. The walk's organiser, Walk the Walk, is aiming to raise more than �1m.

Edinburgh is the first MoonWalk outside London, where it has been an annual event since 1998.

Nina Barough, who founded Walk the Walk, said "What an amazing night, the MoonWalk has come to Scotland to stay, we've been overwhelmed by the support we've had and look forward to being back next year.

"Because of the hard work and dedication of so many walkers and their supporters we hope to have raised a sum of money big enough to really make a difference to breast cancer care in Scotland."

Organisers said the MoonWalk was not a race, however the first finish time for the full marathon was five hours and 16 minutes.

Breast cancer mortality rates in the UK remain the highest in Europe.

Between 1998 and 2002 alone more than 18,000 women in Scotland were diagnosed with breast cancer.