City historians have launched plans for the Capital to remember the first regiment to be garrisoned at the Castle.

They are now in talks about creating the memorial at the site where the regiment served soon after its formation in 1642.

It would become the only monument to the unit in Scotland, and take pride of place in the historic setting of the Castle.

A granite importer who used to serve in the regiment has offered to make the plans a reality, and leading figures in the Scots Guards Association are to be contacted and asked to support the scheme.

The idea is the brainchild of city historian George Robinson, secretary of the One O'Clock Gun Association [3]. He said: "They were the old Scots Army and the only existing regiment that dates back to before the British Army in 1707.

"It's the one regiment we've got left in Scotland that hasn't been amalgamated and we need something in tribute to that."

The only British memorial to the Scots Guards is in London's St James' Park, and Mr Robinson says it is about time Scotland remembered the famous regiment.

He wants to see illustrations of guards dressed in original 1642 uniform, featuring long red coats and wide-brimmed hats, on one side of the memorial, with the modern uniform on the reverse.

He will discuss the plans with Major Iain Dalzel Job, president of the Scots Guards Association Club at Haymarket, who says he would hope to set up meetings at the regiment's headquarters in London for approval.

He said: "It would certainly be a great idea. We were based in Edinburgh very early in the regiment's history. We were a local regiment and we still are a local regiment, so it would be a nice idea."

The regiment's administrative and recruitment offices remain in Edinburgh Castle, while its main regimental headquarters is in London. It currently performs public duties in London, while its 1st Battalion is based in Germany as part of British Forces Germany, due to move to Catterick in 2009.

Former Scots Guardsman James Percy, of granite importer SNI Scotland, has been in discussions about creating the memorial and says he has materials ready to work with.

He said: "Any recognition of Scottish history is fantastic and I'm sure people would love to see a monument for the Scots Guards at the Castle. If the regiment approves it I can certainly do it.

"The Scots Guards was the first regiment to guard the Castle and it would be good to have its battle honours remembered."

The plans would also need approval from Historic Scotland and a planning application would need to be granted by the council's planning board.