They are an essential part of the ancient game of shinty, and are now coming home to be built in the Highlands.

The crafting of Camans, or shinty sticks, have been repatriated from England by a joiner.

Alan MacPherson, a member of Lovat Shinty Club at Kiltarlity, near Beauly, has bought the Tanera Camans brand from Manchester-based lacrosse stick-maker TS Hattersley and Son, which had been making them since 2005.

Tanera Camans was started by Billy MacLean in Fort William in the 1980s and was named after his house which in turn was called after the Summer Isles of Tanera Mor and Tanera Beag near Ullapool.

It was taken over in the mid 1990s, then sold to TS Hattersley.

Mr MacPherson seized the opportunity, to further develop his prototype one-piece ash caman, after the Manchester firm was put up for sale in October after the retirement of its master craftsman, Thomas Beckett.

He said "I am grateful for the privilege of continuing the Tanera story and feel that this is the next step for me and it will complement my joinery business."

Torquil MacLeod, chief operating office of the Camanachd Association, which runs the sport said: "I am very pleased that Alana has taken the initiative to help to secure the supply of sticks for our great game of shinty.