The most popular events at the north-east’s biggest summer gala have been postponed – after Peterhead was battered by rainstorms.
Scottish Week was due to celebrate the best of the Blue Toon last night with the annual bay swim, raft race and fireworks display.
But torrential rains early yesterday morning prompted a rethink and organisers decided to postpone the festivities until this evening to ensure everything could go ahead.
The popular sandcastle competition, held down at the lido, has also been delayed until 3.30pm today. The scheduled display from the 3Sixty Bicycle Stunt Team has been cancelled altogether although it is understood they will return next year.
The bad weather comes after the annual crowning of the Buchan Queen was hit by rain on Saturday.
Last night Scottish Week treasurer Graham Barron said the decision was taken early to ensure there was no last-minute chaos.
“All tonight’s events are rescheduled, except for the 3Sixty stunt bikes who unfortunately have another engagement,” he said.
“The sandcastle competition will be tomorrow at 3.30pm, everything else at the lido will be at the same time tomorrow night. It’s all down to the weather. It was really bad this morning and we took advice from the port authority who said there was to be a bright period followed by more rain.
“There were high winds forecast as well so we took the decision nice and early so we could start planning for tomorrow which is set to be a better night.”
One event that was not postponed was the coastguard rescue demonstration – organisers said the brave emergency crews have to work in all weather and that the display would show how tough their job is.
Mr Barron – who described the gala as a whole so far as a “great success” – added: “It’s the biggest night. The past few years have always had a big night at the lido and this would have been it. Instead of making a call at tea time we decided to postpone it early.”
The bay swim will be held at 7pm tonight, followed by the raft race at 7.30pm and the fireworks display at 10.30pm.
