A steering committee has been set up in a bid to allow an exhibition telling the story of Scotland's regiments to be set up at the Calton Hill site.

In the early stages of the plan last year, Mr Salmond emerged as one of the high-profile supporters of the scheme.

He wrote to organisers saying: "This sounds like an extremely worthwhile initiative and I am pleased to confirm I would be very happy to support the project.

"It would be great to see the old Royal High School put to productive use in this way."

Now George Robinson, secretary of the steering committee, is to write to Mr Salmond and hopes to resume contact.

He said: "I dropped the communication with people like Mr Salmond during the elections but I will approach them again.

"I don't want this to become political but we will approach the First Minister.

The fact he's said he supports the scheme will help our case quite considerably.

"It's already happening without him. We are moving fast, but if he endorses it again that will make the project.

"We will speak to him further about it but we are convinced that he could help make it a reality."