SEVERAL hundred campaigners for same-sex marriage have marched to Holyrood to urge the Scottish Government to change the law.

The demonstration, which began on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, featured a giant Valentine's Day card to First Minister Alex Salmond.

It contained the message: "Roses are white, thistles are blue, we believe in equal marriage and we hope the Scottish Government will too!"

The event saw supporters from across Scotland, including the Equality Network, NUS Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall Scotland, join Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament as part of its Love Equally Campaign.

At the moment, same-sex couples can enter into a civil partnership but cannot get married.

The Scottish Government has said it "tends towards the view" that same-sex marriage should be introduced, but faith groups and their celebrants should not be obliged to solemnise the ceremonies.

Yesterday's march finished with a rally outside the Scottish Parliament, where the crowd was addressed by Scottish Youth Parliament chairman Grant Costello, SNP MSP Marco Biagi, Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Greens, and Marilyn Jackson, of the Humanist Society of Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The consultation on same-sex marriage and registration of civil partnerships closed in early December. The Government will now analyse the responses."