Lily Allen is to headline the concert at this year's Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations.

The Smile singer will perform on the stage beneath Edinburgh Castle during the Concert In The Gardens, as part of a nine-date UK tour.

"I've always wanted to spend Hogmanay in Scotland so the fact that I get to do it this year, but performing on stage in front of a whole load of people up for the best time, makes it extra special," she said.

Lily - who just returned from a short US tour with Miley Cyrus - will play a total of nine dates across the UK in November and December.

She will start in Glasgow on November 22 and then play in Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, Plymouth, Portsmouth and London, before wrapping up with the gig in Edinburgh.

Organisers said Edinburgh's Hogmanay welcomed visitors from more than 60 countries last year, with audiences of around 130,000 people joining in the celebrations over three days.

Steve Cardownie, festivals and events champion at the city council, said: "Edinburgh's Hogmanay has long been the envy of cities across the globe and the celebrations to bring in the start of 2015 are set to be no exception.

"Headliner Lily Allen is sure to be a big hit with revellers, and coupled with an absolutely spectacular fireworks display, we are aiming to yet again bring together and entertain thousands of people as the capital brings in the bells."

Tickets for the November/December shows go on sale on Friday August 22 at 9am (10am for Edinburgh).