A HIGHLAND Games event has been cancelled for the first time in its 42-year history - because of construction work on a new supermarket.
Thousands of spectators have descended on the Bearsden and Milngavie Highland Games in East Dunbartonshire every June since 1972.
But organisers have been forced to scrap this year's event on June 14 because work is due to begin on a new Waitrose store at the West of Scotland RFC ground in Burnbrae, Milngavie.
Contractors are set to start building on a pitch which is usually used for the Games and the introduction of a replacement pitch - expected to be installed in time for the charity event - is behind schedule.
Organiser Alan Oliver said: "I'm disappointed but it is out of our hands.
"We looked at other sites but there is nowhere with the needed infrastructure.
"We can't take the risk so we had to make the decision to cancel the Games."
A spokeswoman for Waitrose said: "We're happy to work with the organisers of the Highland Games in future years, to ensure that this event goes from strength to strength."
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