DEVIOUS schoolchildren from throughout Haddington have hatched a plan to kidnap a world-famous band – for a music video filmed in the town.

Youngsters from King’s Meadow Primary, Haddington Infant and St Mary’s Primary School have teamed up with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers for the video, which will promote the band’s new album, Octane.

The band have performed on the main stage at T in the Park and for HRH The Princess Royal, as well as having toured in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and India.

Band member Kevin MacDonald, who lives on Haddington’s The Maltings and whose seven-year-old son Owen attends Haddington Infants, while Megan (eight) and Adam (10) go to King’s Meadow, told the Courier: “We had the idea where kids could take our roles in the band and be the stars of the show.

“Hopefully, it will build up a bit of a viral element for the new album and we get global publicity.

“Also, the fact my three kids can take part in something like this is important as a dad.

“It is not just about the music or the Red Hot Chilli Pipers – how many kids get the opportunity to be in a music video?”

In the video, a gang of local children will conspire to kidnap the pipers, incarcerate them in their school, and then take their place on-stage.

Youngsters are then expected to mime and pretend to play instruments to create their own version of a Red Hot Chilli Pipers performance.

The final details of the video are still being put together, with filming taking place on June 28 in the Corn Exchange.

Then, with the various bits of equipment already in place, it was decided the band would put on their own performance later that night in the town’s Corn Exchange.

Kevin said the gig, which gets under way at 8pm, was like a homecoming to him.

He said: “It’s five minutes from my house and I can walk to it. The guys in the band like it as well and they come to my house and have a barbecue and chill out before the gig.”

The band are releasing their eighth album, with the video used to promote it.

Kevin, who plays the pipes in the band, said: “We decided to write a new album at the start of the year. It is our eighth album and we needed a clever way to promote the album or do something a little bit different.

“In relation to many bands, it is very expensive and not very fruitful process nowadays advertising.

“You could pay £10,000 for a week’s worth of advertising but unless you are spending £600,000 or £700,000 covering many platforms, you have to think outside of the box.”

The band were in Haddington on Monday to promote their upcoming video and were joined by county MSP Iain Gray.

He said: “The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have enjoyed huge international success over the last few years.

“They have strong Haddington connections, of course, but the band’s decision to choose Haddington to shoot their new video is nonetheless a real coup for the town.

“I doubt that Haddington has ever before hosted a video shoot on this scale.

“All of the town’s primary schoolchildren will get the chance to participate in the filming. It’ll be a very memorable day for them and their families, as well as a big event for the whole town.

“Putting the spotlight on Haddington in this way must be good news for local businesses and, with the video set to be seen by people around the world, will hopefully encourage tourism too.”

Councillor Shamin Akthar, East Lothian Council’s spokesperson for education and children’s wellbeing, was delighted to hear of the video shoot.

She said: “What a fantastic opportunity for all the pupils from Haddington Infant, Kings Meadows and St. Mary’s RC Primary Schools.

“To get the opportunity to sing along with the most famous bagpipe band in the world will be an amazing experience for them.

“A huge thanks to band member and local dad Kevin MacDonald for making this happen.”

Tickets for the band’s concert in Haddington can be booked through their website at rhcp.scot