Record numbers attend Wickerman

The burning of the wickerman echoes a famous film scene

The Wickerman festival in Dumfries and Galloway has attracted record numbers, organisers have announced.

Almost 16,000 music fans flocked to Kirkcudbright for the fifth annual event on 21-22 July, billed as Scotland's alternative music festival.

Bands headlining included Marky Ramone, System 7, Sandi Thom and local favourites, Dangleberries.

The event featured a nine metre high wickerman made out of willow, which was set on fire at midnight.

The festival, which is inspired by the 1972 horror film of the same name, has grown in popularity since it was first staged in 2002.

It aims to provide an alternative to large-scale music events such as T in the Park.

Attendance figures were up 5,000 on last year, and up more than 9,000 on 2004.

The remake of the iconic Wickerman film, starring Nicholas Cage, is released on 1 September.