Aberdeen set for month-long Granite Festival

Aberdeen's Marischal College is a famous city landmark

A month-long Granite Festival has begun in Aberdeen with a series of events being held.

Aberdeen - known as the Granite City - has been shaped with local stone over hundreds of years.

The festival, from 2 May until 28 May, is being led by Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums (AAGM).

It opened at 1200 BST with a demonstration at Provost Skene's House of masonry techniques used in the city's Marischal College restoration.

Aberdeen City Council begins moving into the restored Marischal College granite landmark later this year.

AAGM curator Jenny Brown said: "I'm really looking forward to seeing the masons in action, keeping alive the traditional skills which helped to make the Granite City famous all over the world."

Copies of the Granite Festival programme are available from many outlets, and further details are also available at the Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums website.