Banff businesses have joined forces to offer a group of knitted mice somewhere to keep warm in the run-up to Christmas.
The woolly creatures have been placed in shop windows around the town as part of a mouse hunt competition run by Banff Parish Church.
Adults and children are being asked to search for the mice hiding among festive gifts and decorations.
The challenge is to complete a list marking off the locations of Chris-mouse and his 32 friends.
Moria Gess, the co-ordinator for outreach at Banff Parish Church, said the idea came from an event that took place earlier in the year.
She said: “At the Coastal Fringe Festival in May we had knitted mice hidden round the church for children to find.
“So we have kind of expanded that and all the shopkeepers in Banff have got on board with it.
“It is a free bit of Christmas fun for the community rather than a fundraiser or anything.
“Children and adults alike can go round the shops and find them.”
Elinor Smith, the church’s session clerk, was involved in making the mice and wants Banff’s shopkeepers to benefit from the idea.
She said: “I knitted some of them but there was quite a crowd of us involved.
“They are great fun to knit.
“I hope it promotes local businesses with folk going round the shop windows looking for mice.
“It is a fun thing to do and it is all about keeping people fit because if you are walking round the town it is good for you too.”
Reverend David Locke from Banff Parish Church said it was all about invoking the community spirit.
He said: “It gets people in the community involved, it is for all ages and starts the Christmas celebrations so it is a good thing.”
Anyone interested in taking part can pick up an entry form from the church or Castlegate Newsagents.
Prizes are on offer for both adults and children.
