THE first phase of work to deliver a £5.1 million revamp of the Grassmarket gets under way today.

It is the first of ten stages of work that will be carried out between now and autumn next year.

Businesses will be open as usual during the revamp, with the council insisting "disruption will be kept to a minimum".

Parking will be affected, however, and motorists will have to use spaces in Victoria Street, King Stables Road, Heriot's Bridge and Castle Terrace, instead of the Grassmarket.

This first phase will run until December and will affect the north side of the Grassmarket between the Flodden Wall and just east of Castle Wynd South.

Work will include lifting the cobbles to have them cleaned and shaped before they are re-laid. There will also be Caithness stone laid among the trees in the new events area. An underground recycling facility will be built, CCTV in the lower section of the Grassmarket will be improved, and decorative direction signs will be installed.

Archaeological excavations will also be taking place. RJ McLeod has been appointed by the city council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian to carry out the work.

Meanwhile, roadworks in the Grassmarket are due to be completed tomorrow, as Scottish Water's work to replace water mains in the area comes to an end.