SCOTLAND’S TOP St Bernard dog was at the Scottish Parliament yesterday to put his not insubstantial weight behind Montrose’s Bamse Project.

Murphy, holder of numerous titles and a Cruft’s veteran champion, is the same breed as Bamse, the Norwegian St Bernard who became his country’s symbol of freedom against Nazi occupation during the second world war when he was crew member on the minesweeper Thorodd in Montrose, where he died and is buried.

Murphy was met at Hollyrood by Angus MSP Andrew Welsh who has called for MSPs to express their support for the proposal to build a life-sized bronze statue of Bamse in memory of the special relationship between Scotland and Norway.

The timing coincides with the centenary of Norway’s independence.

The story of Bamse was a topic of conversation round the dinner table when the Norwegian ambassador was entertained in Edinburgh this week.

Montrose Heritage Trust is aiming to raise £50,000 with an international campaign to ensure the success of this Scottish/Norwegian celebration.

The campaign has about £2000 in the bank already and the first large donation has been received from Norway. A Bergen shipping supplies company has donated £250 and there are hopes of more businesses in the area giving their support.