There was disappointment for the organisers of a brave attempt at setting a new world record in Dingwall on Saturday.
But the participants will be back to try again next summer with another mass performance of “strip the willow.”
Co-organiser, Debbie Morrison, was none the less delighted the initiative raised more than £700 at the weekend ceilidh dance in the town’s High Street in aid of the Highland Hospice.
Almost 2,000 people were needed to break the record. But, in the event, no more than several hundred joined the fun.
People travelled from as far as Orkney, Inverness and Rogart to participate.
And undeterred, Ms Morrison – an acting care at home manager for Mid Ross, East Ross and Badenoch and Strathspey – said it was a fabulous event and they were unlikely to give up.
She said: “I’ve spoken with North Highland Events and, subject to securing sponsorship for marketing purposes, we would like to try again next year.
“We would need the sponsorship to allow us to pull the size of crowd we require to beat the current record of 1915. The event would also support charity again.
“It was fine. It got everybody out, mixing, it was good fun. Everybody was just so pleased there was a buzz in the town.”
The organisers’ primary aim was to involve the community while raising awareness of the work being carried out by the hospice.
Prior to the record attempt, there was a “royal” occasion with the crowning of Dingwall gala queen Alisha Maiden.
