MAORI warriors and Highland bagpipes turned heads in George Square as Glasgow was given a taste of the Tattoo.

Their performance was part of the first of three free nationwide Taste of the Tattoo events from the sold-out Edinburgh Tattoo.

The capital's showpiece event, now in its 65th year, is going on tour with visits to Glasgow, Stirling and Dundee.

Tattoo chief executive and producer Brigadier David Allfrey said: "In this extraordinary year for Glasgow, and in the wake of the City's triumph with the Commonwealth Games, the Tattoo is proud to present a taste of our own event.

"In recent times, we have made a wonderful routine of coming over to George Square during August, not only to showcase the Show for the people of Glasgow but also to show our international performers the city, a city where every day offers some splendid adventure and the warmest of welcomes.

"This year is unique for Glasgow in so many ways and we are looking forward very much to being part of it."

Passers-by in George Square yesterday caught performances from Trinidad and Tobago's Steel Orchestra, New Zealand's Maori Warriors, Shetland's Hjaltibonhoga Fiddlers and Nagaland's Folkloric ensemble.

They featured alongside displays from the Royal Marines, the Maltese Army's elite Military Band and Singapore's Armed Forces Central Band, together with the world-famous Massed Pipes and Drums.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said: "The Tattoo is a unique event in Scotland's cultural calendar and does much to raise Scotland's profile as an international centre of culture.

"As we celebrate our rich cultural heritage in the Year of Homecoming, it is great to see a wider audience being given the opportunity to sample the Tattoo experience."