A new national initiative, which has been devised by Scottish Gymnastics in a bid to improve health through participation in physical activity, has been unveiled in Edinburgh.

GymPlay aims to develop the basic movement patterns of everyday life for children between the ages of three- and five-years-old and is to be rolled out over the next few months.

It is based on the principles of SPLICE: Social; Physical; Lingual; Intellectual; Creative; and Educational development and will grow participation in physical activity from an early age.

Scottish minister for Commonwealth Games and sport Shona Robison said: "The GymPlay programme is a fantastic new way of introducing young children to gymnastics and the benefits of physical activity.

"Opportunities of this kind are fun for the children involved and encourage them to continue participating in sporting and physical activities as they grow older, which will have undoubted benefits for their general health."

The launch took place at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre, which is run by Edinburgh Leisure and is one of the venues that delivers gymnastics coaching to local pre-school children.

Edinburgh Leisure sports manager Perrotine Orr said: "This is yet another way to encourage young people in Edinburgh to get active from an early age."