HAGGIS hurling enthusiasts were gathered in Alloway as contestants decked themselves out in period costume to participate in the event.

Esther Brown, 22, was among those tossing the national dish at the Robert Burns Birthplace museum yesterday to mark the poet's birth in January 1759.

The record for haggis hurling was set in June 2011 by Lorne Coltart of Blair Atholl when he threw a haggis 214 feet 9 inches at the 39th Milngavie and Bearsden Highland games.

Event organiser Stuart Cochrane said: "Haggis hurling dates back beyond the Bard, but we are sure he would have enjoyed seeing our national dish involved in such a challenging sport."

Picture: James Galloway