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Dingwall abuzz with bee puppets in colourful 'pollinator parade'

Paul Campbell A group of women and children wearing bright yellow clothes stand in a street in Dingwall. They are holding bee puppets.Paul Campbell
Dingwall residents were asked to make bee puppets for the event marking 800 years of the town's royal burgh status.

A Highland town's year-long celebrations marking 800 years of its royal burgh continued at the weekend with a colourful parade.

Royal burgh status was granted by kings and queens and gave towns special rights and privileges around trade. The practice ended in 1975.

Dingwall was created a royal burgh in 1226 under a charter granted by King Alexander ll.

Saturday's event was called a Pollinator Puppets Parade and it featured hand-made puppets of bees and other insects. Vegetable seeds were also given away for free to help encourage people to grow their own food.

Paul Campbell A dog with a black coat and a white nose is in a street wearing a bee outfit. It has yellow and black antenna on its head and an orange and blue jacket. It also has a garland of red, orange, yellow and green fake roses around its neck.Paul Campbell
Dogs were also dressed up for the parade through Dingwall.

In January, organisers of the Dingwall 800 celebrations held a Bright Burgh Trail.

It saw colourful lights and archive images projected on to buildings in the town centre.

Paul Campbell A woman wearing pink and red clothing and face paints plays a fiddle. There are the colourful wings on a handcrafted insect behind her.Paul Campbell
Music was a feature of the weekend festivities.
Paul Campbell A family dressed in colourful clothes and paper masks and butterfly wings.Paul Campbell
The Pollinators Puppet Parade formed part of wider celebrations taking place this year.
Paul Campbell A woman wears a large puppet of a yellow and black queen bee as she walks in the parade.Paul Campbell
The parade showcased locals' creativity.
Paul Campbell A purple insect puppet with big eyes and colourful wings is held aloft above a crowd of people.Paul Campbell
People also made puppets of other insects, including butterflies.
Paul Campbell A man and a woman wearing yellow T-shirts over hooded offer free seed potatoes at a street stall.Paul Campbell
Seed potatoes and other vegetable seeds were offered for free during the event.