Pop superstars Westlife have arrived in Scotland as part of a UK-wide tour to promote their greatest hits album.

The Irish band posed for photographs and signed copies of their album, Unbreakable, for about 1,500 fans, outside an HMV store in Edinburgh.

The visit coincided with news of the band's 11th number one single, also called Unbreakable.

It was one of five events across the UK which Westlife hope will earn them a place in the record books for most personal appearances in 36 hours.

Westlife have sold 18 million albums

The band's Mark Feehily said they were "running on nervous energy", while Nicky Byrne said it was a good way to meet their fans.

He said: "It would be nice if we could break the record but what this is mainly about is going out to meet the fans.

"We are enjoying it more than ever before so hopefully Greatest Hits 2 is in the pipeline."

Fans, some of whom had queued for 24 hours, were excited by the prospect of meeting their idols.

'We are all mad'

Alison Birrell, 23, said: "I want to ask Kian if he fancies a date and a kiss.

"I am looking for a new man because I only got dumped yesterday."

Carole Macdonald and daughters Pamela, 23, and Louise, 19, said they had been following Westlife around the UK.

Pamela said: "We are all mad. We have been travelling for 48 hours just seeing them.

"We saw them in London for CD:UK and got off the plane last night and came straight here."

Westlife have sold 18 million albums and seven million singles worldwide, and their last collection, World of Our Own, sold more than five million copies.

The band are managed by Pop Stars judge Louis Walsh and celebrated their first number one with Swear It Again in 1999.