Top athlete Eilidh Child returned to her home town this weekend to help launch its Christmas celebrations.
The Commonwealth Games star performed the honours at Kinross’s traditional switch-on ceremony, which drew large crowds into the town centre.
The 27-year-old 400m hurdler, who was recently named Scotland’s Athlete of the Year, said Saturday night’s ceremony rounded off a “mad but amazing” year.
“I’m glad I enjoyed a good year on the track to justify the invite,” she said.
“It’s really nice to get this invitation because my family still lives in Kinross.
“Our home is just round the corner from where the Christmas tree always goes up and the town has always supported me in my track career.”
The former Perth Grammer School PE teacher, who now lives in Bath, said it was the first time she had been able to switch on the town’s Christmas display, despite being asked twice before.
“There always seemed to be other diary commitments,” she said.
The event took place in the Muirs area of the town on Saturday.
Organisers lined up an array of market stalls, carol singers, a pipe band and live music.
Other communities across the Perth and Kinross area were also lit up for Christmas this weekend.
On Saturday night, Blairgowrie’s lights were turned on by local florist Paula McLagan, a gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show. The event was preceded by a parade through the town led by Santa Claus and featuring huskies.
At neighbouring Rattray, local primary one pupils Sarah Pillinger and Mickey Patterson switched on their local display.
The lights went on at Coupar Angus, at Errol in a well-attended ceremony at the village cross and at Auchterarder, where Santa was escorted through the streets by a pipe band procession.
Picture by Angus Findlay