Nearly 52,000 admissions were registered by the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year.

The 70th edition of the annual festival has been deemed "hugely successful" by its organisers after 51,947 admissions to events were recorded.

This is an increase on the more than 50,000 recorded last year.

The festival, which opened with golf dramaTommy's Honour and closed with the remake of Whisky Galore!, also said 9000 people attended outdoor screenings.

More than 500 film makers were in attendance, 300 people from the press and 600 industry delegates.

The 50,000 admissions registered last year were in themselves a 9% increase on 2014.

It was announced at this year's closing film premiere that the film festival would again be staged in June next year.

This year the festival showcased over 160 features and 130 shorts from 55 countries and included 22 World Premieres, 5 International Premieres, 17 European Premieres and 85 UK Premieres.

Mark Adams, artistic director of the festival, said: "It has been a wonderful festival brimming with terrific films, amazing guests and memorable events.

"The fact that both press and public have been so enthusiastic and supportive means that our 70th edition has been a hit.

"We now look forward to another exciting year of planning for the 2017 Festival."

Ken Hay, chief executive, said:“EIFF is unashamedly international and outward-looking in its programming and its reach, with 55 countries represented in the programme, guests from almost 40 countries, and a truly multi-national team delivering the event.

"We’re delighted that audiences and guests have responded so positively to the programme and the broader Festival experience, and are thrilled to see an increase in admissions."

At the festival, award-winning films this year included Ben Sharrock’s Pikadero, awarded the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film; Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ Suntan which won the Award for Best Film in the International Competitions and Johan Grimonprez’s Shadow World which took home the Award for the Best Documentary Feature.

The Audience Award was won by Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople.