Holyrood Road closed due to ongoing 'police incident'

A bomb disposal unit has been called to examine a suspicious package found in Holyrood Road this afternoon.

Police closed off the road outside the Holyrood 9A pub, between St Mary's Street and a block of student accommodation.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police were called at 1;35pm on Tuesday, December 17th to a report of a suspicious item found in Holyrood Road, Edinburgh.

Police have closed part of Holyrood Road. Pic: Google Maps

"Police are at the scene and a cordon is in place as a precaution and the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) are attending to examine the item."

The council-run Edinburgh Travel News has already tweeted to say: "Holyrood Road - is closed due to a police incident.

"Closed both ways between St Mary's Street and the student accommodation just near there."

They added that the Canongate is also closed both ways, just at the roundabout outside of Parliament.

The number 6 Lothian bus has been diverted via the Canongate due to the road closure.