DAVID Lang leaps into action to launch this year's Merchant City Festival.

Parkour specialists David and pal Chris Grant scaled the heights of Albion Street to publicise the event.

The freestyle urban roadrunners' were giving festival-goers a glimpse of what's in store when the festival, now in its seventh year, returns from September 25 until 28.

Brighton-based parkour group Prodigal Theatre will stage gravity-defying performances and workshops in Merchant Square as part of a programme of events that includes a charity catwalk show, street theatre, stand-up comedy, visual arts and live music.

Highlights include performances by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Opera, Perrier Award winners Jeremy Hardy and Jenny Eclair, the premiere of Six Acts of Love, starring Una McLean, at the Tron Theatre, plus a performance by Polish-born cleaner turned concert pianist Aleksander Kudajczyk.

The Evening Times is media partner of the four-day festival, which features over 200 events staged at more than 70 venues.

Leader of Glasgow City Council Steven Purcell said: "The Merchant City Festival has a well-deserved reputation as a cutting-edge event, which not only showcases the energy of this thriving and creative district of Glasgow but also enhances its credentials as Glasgow: Scotland with Style."

Pictures: Martin Shields