The charity for the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs have contributed more than £1,000 to the organisers of the Luss Highland Games for an important new piece of equipment.

Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs handed over a cheque for £1,125 to two of the Games’ organisers for the purchase of a new landing mat for the high jump event, with the old equipment desperately in need of being replaced.

The funding for the initiative has come from the Friends of OUR park voluntary visitor giving scheme, which includes several businesses operating in Luss.

One of those receiving the cheque was Sir Malcolm Colquhoun, who is due to hand over the reins as Games chieftain to his son Patrick.

He said: “It is great to see such generosity from visitors contributing to the Friends of OUR park project being used to such great effect. Luss Highland Games is a fixture in many people’s calendars and it is important that it has the equipment needed to make it a safe and enjoyable day.

“The Friends’ gesture has certainly made a big contribution towards that.”

The Games’ athletics co-ordinator Bobby Lennox was also in attendance as the organiser of the athletics event for the Games, which welcomed thousands of visitors to the village.

Mr Lennox said: “We are delighted with this support from the Friends and wish to express our sincere thanks to them and all the businesses and donors who participate in the Friends of OUR park visitor giving scheme.

“Running an event like this is not easy and we appreciate whatever support we can get, especially such an excellent sum of money as this one.

“The high jump participants also commented on how good it was to have a new landing mat to use.”