A prestigious global conference that attracts people who live, work or play on the world's canals is coming to Inverness.

The Highland capital will host the World Canals Conference in September 2016. It is billed as the biggest event in the international waterways calendar, and Inverness follows the Grand Canal in China, Montreal in Canada and New York in the US as host location.

More than 150 canal enthusiasts, professionals and operators from across the world are expected to head to the Highlands for the five-day event, boosting the local economy by £300,000.

Scottish Canals and others will showcase a range of high-profile projects along Scotland's 137-mile canal network. This will include a look at how the Kelpies came to life, how the Falkirk Wheel became one of Scotland's top visitor destinations and the creation of Pinkston Watersports Centre in Glasgow - Scotland's only urban white water course for amateur and professional paddlers.