
These fiery skies wouldn't look out of place in any Game of Thrones episode.

However it appears as though dragons were flying over the skies of Scotland in this dramatic image, captured in Edinburgh.

Junior Doctor, Tom Foster, 25, couldn't believe his eyes when he looked up to see the apocalyptic scene while taking photos of the Scottish capital.

Mr Foster's perfect timing meant that he caught the exact moment the heavens opened above the city as a giant rain cloud cast a shadow over the vibrant sunset.

The incredible result was described by the amateur photographer as looking like a fire breathing dragon or even the hand of God reaching down to grasp Edinburgh Castle in its flaming palm.

Tom Foster, 25, captured the moment that the heavens opened above Edinburgh. The dramatic image has been described as looking like a fire breathing dragon or even the hand of God reaching down to grasp Edinburgh Castle in its flaming palm

Since posting the picture on his Facebook page, Mr Foster has been inundated with other suggestions of what the magnificent shape could be - with some saying it is a phoenix rising from flames, a Klingon shop from Star Trek or even an angry pigeon.

Tom, who moved from Derbyshire to Edinburgh eight years ago, said: 'When I first saw the cloud I knew it looked spectacular but it wasn't until after I took the picture and looked at it on my camera that I started to see the unusual shape it made.

'I love the picture because everyone sees something different in it. I've had hundreds of comments and messages from people suggesting different things. Some I can see myself, such as the phoenix but I'm not sure about the pigeon!

'I just really like how it is open to interpretation and has provoked debate.'

Tom took the picture from Calton Hill, in the hope of capturing a nice shot over Edinburgh's skyline at sunset.

However as he was walking up to get the picture, black cloud began to gather and Tom almost turned back.

Tom said: 'I could tell it was about to rain badly and I thought about just going home rather than risk getting wet, but thankfully I didn't and took a chance.

'I got a couple of shots of the sky looking normal, before this really big rain-cloud appeared. It looked absolutely fabulous against the sunset and I knew I had to get a picture of it.

'Even the picture itself doesn't do justice to how impressive the sky really was at that moment. It looked even more incredible in person.