Junior panners 'going for gold'

Winners in the past have come from as far afield as Holland

The gravel and dirt of Perthshire is being scoured for precious metals and stones as the Scottish Junior Gold Panning Championships takes place.

The event at the Highland Safari Lodge near Aberfeldy is expected to attract about 100 youngsters aged eight to 14.

The title is currently in Scottish hands, but in the past has gone as far afield as Holland.

Also featuring will be RSPB activities, wildlife safaris and clan re-enactments with the Atholl Highland Warriors.

Julie Riddell, one of the directors of Highland Safaris, said: "Highland Perthshire is famous for the minerals that there are in the area.

"The biggest bit of gold ever found in Scotland was found up in the hills above Aberfeldy, but as well as gold there's a disused copper mine on the south side of Loch Tay, and a bayrite mine which is in use commercially still.

The child who finds the most gold and precious stones is the winner

"I think it's really good for children to be aware that from the earth comes all of these very precious minerals and I think it really keeps them in touch with that and it's great fun."

Each participant will have 20 minutes to find as much gold and gems as they can.

Mrs Riddell said: "They buy into a bucket of grit and we do what they call 'salting the claim' and that is a very legitimate operation where we enhance the content of the bucket with some extra gemstones and gold.

"It just increases the enthusiasm and keeps people panning - the prospectors used to do it out in the hills so that it kept them all fired-up looking for more precious minerals, more gold."