Town ready for mushroom festival

Icelandic band Baggalutur will be performing during the festival

More than 8,000 people are expected to gather in Aberfoyle for the town's seventh annual Mushroom Festival.

The event, which celebrates Scotland's links with other similar-sized nations and runs until 21 October, will feature music and food from Iceland.

A nine-piece Icelandic Country and Western band and two indigenous chefs have flown into the town in rural Stirling as part of the festival.

A 12ft Viking galley will be burned ceremoniously on the final night.

The festival was established seven years ago by local traders to capitalise on the area's fast natural stocks of wild mushrooms and also improve the town's economy.

Fergus Wood, who helps organise the festival as part of the Aberfoyle Traders Association, said the event also helped improve links between Scotland and other small countries.

He said: "It's a great opportunity for us to sample the Icelandic culture, taste their food and listen to their music.

"Not only that, it's a great way to have fun."

During the weekend fungus forays will take place in the woods around the town.

The event will also feature a dog show, a charity golf match and a pike fishing open day and competition on Loch Ard.