THE Forth Road Bridge’s 50th birthday celebrations were all at sea on Sunday as a flotilla of 180 vessels took to the water to mark the event.

The flotilla was one of the highlights of the iconic structure’s golden anniversary, and vessels taking part included the Maid of the Forth, the 112-year-old sailing herring drifter Reaper and 97-year-old baldie White Wing from the Scottish Fisheries Museum, and three Navy ships, led by HMS Archer.

Visitors also enjoyed a parade of 1000 bikers vrooming across the bridge from West Fife to South Queensferry, and back again.

And the bridge’s birthday finale will end in a bang tomorrow (Saturday), kicking off with a torchlight procession and concluding in the ‘Forth Fling’ outdoor ceilidh.

It will see 2014 torch-bearers forming a river of fire across the bridge to West Fife before returning to a party in South Queensferry, with first-class food, drink and entertainment, headlined by legendary rockers Big Country and special guests Bwani Junction.

The fireworks will be launched at 10.06pm, recognising the bridge’s 1006-metre span, and set to music, with the night culminating in the ceilidh.

Road closures and parking restrictions will be in place ahead of the event.

North Queensferry residents will be permitted access, but not via Ferryhills Road.

Southbound traffic will be restricted to a single lane from 7pm and the bridge will close completely between 10-10.30pm.

South Queensferry High Street will be closed from 2pm, with local parking suspended from noon.

Those planning journeys via the bridge, or travelling to and from North and South Queensferry are advised to check www.trafficscotland.org for details of road closures. Details are also online at www.forthroadbridge.org.