David Murdoch warmed up for the defence of his European title in style by lifting the Edinburgh International Curling Championship trophy.

The current World champion saw off fellow Scot Peter Loudon at Murrayfield less than a week before he competes on home soil in Aberdeen.

Murdoch headed up a semi-finals full of Scottish teams as he and Euan Byers, Pete Smith and Ewan MacDonald beat Aberdeen’s Tom Brewster while Loudon downed Warwick Smith.

However there was to be only one winner in the final with Murdoch – who won his second World Championship gold in April – coming out on top 7-6.