Pilots are being asked to avoid flying over Edinburgh Zoo so as not to disturb animals during their breeding season, including giant panda Tian Tian.

A Notice To Airmen, or NoTam, has been published by the Civil Aviation Authority asking pilots not to fly in the area if possible to reduce noise from low-flying planes and helicopters.

NoTams are usually issued to alert aircraft pilots to potential hazards along a flight route such as cranes, closed runways or large public events. The zoo said the notice was put in place mainly to protect its breeding penguins but the likely pregnancy of Tian Tian was also a factor.