POLICE Scotland have launched an investigation to identify three youths who "blacked up" as golliwogs for a town's summer parade.

Officers were contacted after complaints were made about the trio at the Wick Gala, in Caithness, during the traditional parade of decorated floats through the centre of the town on Saturday.

A picture from the event shows three youngsters - two boys and one girl - all with black curly wigs, and black faces with white around their eyes. All were wearing distinctive red, blue, white and black costumes.

Wick Gala Committee has been contacted by police as part of their probe.

Donna Plowman, who chairs the Wick Gala Committee, said: "Police approached us on Monday as they were making inquiries into certain participants after receiving concerns about people dressing up as Golliwogs and the Jackson Five.

"On the night in question, none of the organisers saw these participants as we were busy elsewhere running the float parade.

"We will have to discuss what has happened as a committee to see how we can go forward from this."

Participants at the fancy dress gala register to take part in the parade on the Friday night where they also pick up collection tins. However committee members are not told in advance what they plan to dress up as.

Officers contacted the local newspaper, the Caithness Courier, which was unable to help them identify the youngsters.

Pictures of the trio have been posted on Facebook and Twitter as well as local website Caithness.org.

Mrs Plowman said the aim of the committee is to organise an event where people can enjoy themselves.

She said: "Wick Gala is a charity fundraising event and if we start dictating to people what they can and cant go out as it could lead to the end of the gala completely.

"This will be a matter which will be discussed, where we might have to look at setting out guidelines.

"If guidelines were to be introduced, it would need to ensure they were not so strict that people would be put off from taking part.

"If we start dictating what people can come and dress as, it could make things even worse. I don't know if it will get to the point if people would have to produce a picture of what they are coming as before they take part."

Once considered harmless cartoon characters, images of Golliwogs have become taboo in recent years because of their racial undertones.

The term in the UK is seen as a slur and there have been incidents across the country where people have been charged for using the name or portraying the character.

Two years ago a school in Edinburgh was investigated after a complaint was made about a mural featuring a golliwog was restored.

The scene from Alice in Wonderland, found in Wardie Primary's assembly hall, dated back to 1936 but fell foul of the law when a mother lodged a complaint about the image describing it as racist.

And last year managers of a shop on a royal estate were forced to apologise after it was found to be selling golliwog toys.

The toys were later withdrawn from sale at the 20,000-acre estate at Sandringham, in Norfolk.

Police Scotland confirmed it is carrying out an investigation into the incident at Wick Gala, but would not comment further.