A HIGHLANDS music school saved from closure last year thanks to a national campaign has launched a charitable trust to make up a shortfall in funds.

Sgoil Chiul Na Gaidhealtachd (The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music) was threatened last year when Highland Council proposed to withdraw grants.

After a campaign backed by musicians including Phil Cunningham, Julie Fowlis, and Donald Shaw, and Education Secretary Mike Russell, the council's decision was withdrawn, but funding was cut.

Now the school, which gives specialist tuition in traditional music to secondary school children, has set up a charitable trust, Friends of Plockton Music School, to compensate. It will be funded mainly by annual subscription.

Centre director Dougie Pincock said the trust will help fund "fringe" activities including CD production, touring costs and equipment purchase. "We need about £30,000 a year to keep them happening, so that's the initial target income," he said.

The trust will be launched at the centre's end-of-year concert in Plockton High School next Saturday.

Fergus Muirhead, chair of the board of trustees, said: "The NCETM provides a great opportunity for some very talented musicians to develop their skills and it acts as a springboard allowing many of them to go on to pursue a successful career making music.

"It's vital the centre continues to offer these opportunities and the money that the trust intends to raise is important to help fund non-core activities."