RESIDENTS close to Scotland's busiest airport have been warned about the possibility of increased aircraft noise while the regular flight path is temporarily changed.

Maintenance work is to be carried out on Edinburgh Airport's main runway over the next three weekends between 11pm and 5.30am.

Operators said the work is required to "maintain safe operation" of the main runway and planes will use the airport's secondary runway during the work.

Only a small number of flights will operate during the renovations, and the main runway will reopen before 6am each morning.

Areas potentially affected include Bonnyrigg, Loanhead, Fairmilehead, Colinton, Sighthill, South Gyle, Oxgangs, Kirkliston and Bo'ness.

The work is part of a £150 million programme including the construction of a new security hall set to be completed by October.

Chief executive Gordon Dewar said: "Our runway is subjected to very heavy loads and forces and can degrade over time. This work will involve resurfacing a number of areas on the runway, particularly at the aircraft touchdown zones.

"As we will be operating a different take-off and landing route some areas around Edinburgh may experience an increased level of aircraft noise. Although this runway maintenance work may cause some minimal inconvenience in the short term, it is essential that we continue to invest in and improve our facilities."

The airport had a 4.9% rise in passenger numbers last month compared to the previous year.