Preparations have begun for Edinburgh's Christmas Market with the foundations of dozens of stalls being laid by forklifts on Tuesday morning.
Previous organisers of the market, Underbelly, came under fire for the way the ground was left after the popular festive event, with the impact on Princes Street Gardens taking months to recover.
However, Edinburgh Council are set to approve the go-ahead of the market for the next five years despite contract chaos.
READ MORE: Edinburgh customer slams Deliveroo after dinner turns up splattered on doorstep
Early on Tuesday morning, November 15, work began on building the foundations of the market that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, with dozens of food, drink and retail stands forming the centrepiece of Edinburgh's busiest streets.
Images show wooden boards being laid by forklifts at East Princes Street Gardens with piles of metal railings and barriers waiting to be erected by workers.
Open seven days per week from 10am- until late, Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets, Santa Land, Forth 1 Big Wheel, and other festive rides open on the afternoon of Friday 25 November. The George Street Ice Rink opens on Saturday 26 November.
To enter the market, you do not need a ticket. Just turn up and wonder round the stalls. Of course, if you are buying anything whether it's a gift or food and drink, don't expect it to be cheap. Last year one of Edinburgh Live's reporters struggled to buy anything to eat under £6.
With its brilliant decorations and bright lights, the market was recently voted as the most 'Instagrammable' in the UK after impressing tourists with its aesthetic look. Surrounded by stunning architecture and located with castle as its backdrop, the Edinburgh markets received over 44,483 mentions on Instagram, with visitors sharing their snaps of the event.
READ NEXT-
First look at Edinburgh Ocean Terminal flats and £250m 'new town centre'
Fashion retailer Joules goes into administration threatening Edinburgh jobs
Lewis Capaldi stops for pictures with fans at curry house before concert
Midlothian killer Luke Mitchell to make audacious freedom bid with 'new evidence'
Family who refused to move have spent 40 years living in middle of roundabout
