THE G8 summit in Gleneagles has caused a massive security headache for a number of venues across the city.

Edinburgh Airport will remain open to holidaymakers, but travellers will be subjected to security never before witnessed in the city.

And the annual air show staged at the Museum of Flight has been scrapped because Edinburgh will be on standby in case George Bush or Tony Blair want to arrive there. Security cordons will also be thrown around landmarks such as the Castle and the Forth Road Bridge, although both Historic Scotland and bridge operators Feta today said they had no plans to close to the public. And major local roadworks during the summit will be postponed.

A steel fence will be built around the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament at the cost of thousands of pounds. The palace will be shut because the Queen will be in residence and parliament chiefs today said they have not yet decided whether to open to the public.

All police leave at Scots forces has been cancelled for the first two weeks of July, and court calendars have been cleared in anticipation of an influx of criminal cases relating to the summit.