Bid to host new tartans authority

The register will classify tartans such as those worn by soldiers

A council chief is hoping to persuade the Scottish government to base a new national register of tartans in the Highlands.

Sandy Park, convener of Highland Council, has written to First Minister Alex Salmond and also sought support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The establishment of a register won government backing last month.

Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor first put forward the idea in the last parliament.

The register will "classify and authenticate" tartans, with its foundation being provided by the Scottish Tartans Authority, based in Crieff, which has 6,500 tartans on its database.

The Highlands is a natural place to consider locating this new venture Sandy Park Council convener

The Court of the Lord Lyon and the National Archives of Scotland would play a crucial role in setting up, operating, maintaining and allowing access to the register.

Mr Park was approached by Inverness councillor Kenneth MacLeod about basing it in the north.

The convener said: "The Highlands is a natural place to consider locating this new venture, which will prove a significant tourist attraction and create a number of jobs.

"Not only is the Highlands the geographical centre of the historic legacy of tartan but we also boast a wealth of experience and knowledge of tartan."

Mr MacLeod said: "I recognise that a lot of the manufacturing of tartan is conducted outwith the Highlands, but nonetheless the clan system and roots from which tartan has come is within the Highlands and Islands and I think we have a good claim to have the register established here."