Schoolgirls have overturned a traditional male bastion by taking over one of Scotland's most promising pipe bands.

Hundreds of youngsters have signed up to learn bagpipes and drums at a Scottish high school, but the coveted places are being dominated by girls.

Preston Lodge High School in East Lothian has 31 players in its pipe band, with 24 girls and seven boys. Organisers of the country's first ever Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships say the popularity of piping among girls is soaring, and will now carry out the first detailed audit of numbers.

Lee Moore, bagpipe instructor at the school, said female students were earning their places in the band on merit.

He said: "It really surprises most people when they learn almost 80% of our band members are girls.

"But in my experience, this is simply down to the fact they are more determined to master an instrument at an earlier age, compared to the boys."